Maulana and two Gujarat Congressmen face actions for inflammatory speech

Ahmedabad, 26 October 2012

The Election Commission of India has asked Congress leader Kadir Pirzada, Maulana Faiyaz Laturi and Maksud A Kazi(General Secretary of District Congress Minority Cell, Surat) to reply to its notice on violation of the Model code of conduct by 29 October, 2012. The ECI has in its notice asked why action should not be taken against them. As per the ECI order, if they fail to reply, the commission will decide the matter without any further reference to them.

The Commission had received complaint of violation of code of conduct against Pirzada and Laturi for their inflammatory and communal hatred speeches in 21 October rally of Congress party at Tadkeshwar, Mandvi in district Surat. The rally was organized by Maksud A Kazi, General Secretary of Surat Congress Minority Cell. As per the CD of the proceedings of the meeting, Pirzada had made the following objectionable and inflammatory speech:

“Remember the day when Godhra was going on……….. remember the day when molestations took place, when mothers and sisters were molested and looted, remember the day when people’s houses and shops were burnt…. We tolerated it and today 17 cases are going on… ”

“When such an occasion comes atrocities are committed against Muslims and when there is no one between a Muslims and Allah. look at one example that has come up….. Babu Bajrangi had said that he will cut this and that……. Allah has cut him in such a manner that he will not be able to move….. does it ever happen amongst us… that there is a communal riot and someone amongst us goes and kills a Hindu… does our religion allow it…”

The Election Commission found that by inciting communal feelings in this speech Pirzada had prima facie committed the electoral offenses under the provisions of RP Act 1951 and IPC and violated the provisions of model code of conduct.

The ECI also found Maulana Faiyaz Laturi’s speech in the same gathering objectionable. The commission obtained the Video CD and transcript and viewed the relevant portions of the objectionable and inflammatory speeches. According to this, Maulana Faiyaz Laturi in his speech said:

“A Bharvad (Shepherd community) enters the house of Muslim. A lady who had a delivery is lying there, Bharvad takes out the sacrificial meat and Bharvad claims that it is beef. How they can dare to enter our houses without any kind of fear of revenge”.

“Those who raise fingers at our community will not be tolerated by us. we will not be swayed by stupid people….. There was a meeting l5 to 20 days ago an Ulemea(Muslim scholar) had made some allegations against paigambar (prophet)… we will never tolerate it and all Ulemas gathered at Anand and have taken a decision that till this person is removed from Haj Committee chairman and till his feet are cut we will not sit silently……”

The Election Commission has found violation of two of its rules; (1) No party or candidate shall indulge in any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic,” and (2) “There shall be no appeal to caste or communal feelings for securing votes. Mosques, Churches, Temples or other places of worship shall not be used for election propaganda.”