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Sabrang Team
|
Misusing Religion for Electoral Gain
May 7,
2006
PRESS
RELEASE
Ms. Parveen Abdi, Vice Chairperson of Rachnatmak
Karyakarta cell of Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) and
daughter of late M.N.Abdi, a veteran freedom fighter and a close
associate of late Feeroz Gandhi has taken strong exception to the
utterances of former Union Minister and Senior Samajwadi Party
leader Beni Prasad Verma in Rae Bareilly yesterday where Beni Verma
sought to question the patriotism of Smt Sonia Gandhi on the basis
of her personal faith. Parveen Abdi has urged the Election
Commission to take cognizance of Beni Verma’s unbecoming public
address in an election meeting in Rae Barielly and disqualify the SP
candidate from the bi-election as in his presence Beni Verma
described Christians as non-nationalist by virtue of their faith and
appealed for votes for Samawadi party candidate on communal basis.
Samajwadi Party and its candidate has surely violated the model code
of conduct as he and his party has chosen to create hatred and ill
will between communities on the basis of their religious belief and
faith and sought to raise communal passion by describing Christians
and Muslims as arch enemies she added. Beni Verma tried to project a
clash between religious faith and patriotism. Parvenu Abdi said
further that though Ms. Sonia Gandhi doesn't require to prove her
faith to the mean and small minded people the ilk of Beni Verma but
truly living upto her family traditions like the past this time too
Mrs. Sonia Gandhi performed the Puja before filing her nomination
papers. However, being a Christian is not a crime, let alone anti
national. Christianity is as much an Indian faith as Hinduism,
Islam, Sikhism and Budhism etc. Parveen Abdi has urged the election
commission to treat Beni Verma the same way Shiv Sena Supremo
Balasaheb Thakrey was booked under similar circumstances during
Maharashtra elections and he was ultimately disenfranchised for six
years. The election commission should lodge FIR against Beni Verma
and all those present in that meeting, including SP candidate and UP
Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav for violating the code of
election conduct.
PARVEEN ABDI
16, Maqbara Golagunj,
Lucknow-226018
Ph: 09839-226474 |