People's Democracy

BJP’s COMMUNAL ELECTION PROPAGANDA MATERIAL

AIDWA Demands Stringent Action 

The following is the text of the statement issued by AIDWA president and general secretary in New Delhi on April 5, 2007:

THE AIDWA strongly condemns the viciously communal and anti-women election propaganda that the BJP is indulging in as part of the party’s campaign in the UP assembly polls. A CD was recently released by the BJP leaders in Lucknow as part of their campaign material. This has been described as containing references to the planned abduction of Hindu girls by Muslim boys aided by clerics, after which the Hindu girls are supposedly forced to adopt Islam. This is not only viciously communal, it justifies the worst kind of violence against those going in for self-choice marriages.

Another very reprehensible aspect is that in light of the Sachar Committee report, when some governments have promised to rectify the deprivation faced by Muslims, the BJP scoffs at this to say that if Muslims are given benefits, then should the Hindus leave the country?

This effort to pit the poor and deprived of one community against another is most shameful, and indicates a complete lack of concern for the poor, and their development.

The attempt to play on the religious emotions of the people is against the secular principles of the Constitution, and cannot be tolerated.

AIDWA demands that the Election Commission should take the most stringent action against all those responsible for the election propaganda material. It should be vigilant and monitor the activities, speeches, campaigns and materials used by communal parties like the BJP carefully.