MEERUT: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sakshi Maharaj was booked on Saturday for allegedly hurting religious sentiments after he indirectly blamed Muslims for population growth in the country, inviting criticism from various political parties.
The BJP distanced itself from the comments made at a ‘sant sammelan’ in Meerut on Friday, while the Election Commission sought a report from the Meerut district administration.
The FIR against Maharaj was registered under Indian Penal Code Sections 298 (uttering words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any person), 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class) and 153b (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national- integration) among others, police said.
Superintendent of police J Ravinder Goud said the FIR was registered at Sadar Bazar police station. The Congress also complained to the Election Commission.
What he said?
"The Hindu is not responsible for the population explosion (in India). It is those who keep four wives and produce 40 children...If Hindu numbers go down, the country will be divided."
- BJP leader Sakshi Maharaj's exact words
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