Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday justified his earlier remarks demanding withdrawal of voting rights from Muslims, claiming that the community's condition would never improve as long as vote bank politics continues in India.
"Ever since Independence, the vote bank politics of the Muslim votes has not ended. Even after the partition, the Muslim population is growing and the Muslim leaders have taken ownership of Muslim votes. Muslims have not benefitted from the Muslim vote bank politics. As long as the Muslim vote bank remains in the hands of a few, their condition will never improve," Raut told ANI.
Raut's remarks have drawn widespread criticism from leaders across party lines.
Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit termed Raut's remarks as 'unconstitutional' and called for strict action against him.
"It is unconstitutional, this is something that calls for serious action. Anybody who open talks unconstitutionally has no place in public life...the motive is to communalise the atmosphere," Dikshit said.
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Meanwhile, Janata Dal (United) leader Ali Anwar said that the Indian Constitution grants voting rights to every adult, irrespective of his or her religion.
"India is a secular country and it has a constitution which grants voting rights to every adult irrespective of caste, religion and sex. As long as there is constitution no one can deprive anyone of the voting rights," Anwar said.
According to reports, Raut, in an article published in the Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna, wrote that the voting rights of Muslims should be withdrawn in order to put an end to vote bank politics. Raut also described All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leaders Asaduddin and Akbaruddin Owaisi as a 'threat to the nation'.
