CJP moves ECI against BJP leader Bandi Sanjay Kumar for delivering communally inflammatory election speech In the poll-bound state of Telangana, the BJP leader promoted violence, manipulated history and used defamatory words against AIMIM
18, Oct 2023 | CJP Team
On October 17, Citizens for Justice and Peace moved the Election Commission of India as well as the Telangana State Election Commission against an election speech delivered by BJP national general secretary Bandi Sanjay Kumar. In the said speech, made on October 10 in Adilabad district of Hyderabad, Kumar made communally inflammatory and violence promoting comments.
Kumar had delivered the impugned speech while addressing a gathering at the Jana Garjana Sabha. He had stated that, “Modi’s rule must come in Telangana, so that those who attacked Hindu society and created destruction in Bhainsa, and the people from AIMIM who raped minors, are stripped and chased down the streets.” In furtherance to calling to the memoirs of riots, Kumar also raised calls encountering and burying those in Pakistan who do not chant ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai.’ He had also remarked that: “Those who are hoisting Pakistan flags instead of chanting Bharat Mata ki Jai should be killed in encounters and buried in Pakistan.”
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The complaint highlighted that through his speech, Kumar has not only used manipulative and defamatory words against the AIMIM (All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen) party, but also made communally inflammatory remarks to promote violence against Muslims as well as raised calls for conducting encounters. The divisive words uttered by Kumar make it a clear case of hate speech aimed at instigating disaffection, spreading misinformation and promoting violence against minorities.
As per the complaint, the speech by Kumar stands in violation of all equality and non-discrimination provisions (secular and democratic values) enshrined in the Constitution of India and also amounts to the offences defined as “corrupt practices” under the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Clause 3A of Section 123 of the RPA provides that ) The promotion of, or attempt to promote, feelings of enmity or hatred between different classes of the citizens of India on grounds of religion, race, caste, community, or language, by a candidate for the furtherance of the prospects of the election of that candidate will amount to corrupt practices.
The complaint also provided the controversial statements made by Kumar in the past to emphasize that he is a repeat offender who consistently indulges in making statements that are violent in nature, usually aimed at gender and religious minorities, and are averse to the values of a secular, socialist and democratic country. With this, the complaint demands for strict action to be taken against Bandi Sanjay Kumar along with direction for issuance of an unconditional public apology and retraction for his utterances in Hyderabad.
The complaint also urges the ECI to issue a notice to the state and national party in chief of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as this conduct of one of its own elected representatives puts a responsibility on any party that participates in elections held under the mandate of the Indian Constitution to honour and follow its mandate as laid down in both the Preamble and Fundamental Rights (Chapter III).
The complete complaint can be read here:
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