Allegations have surfaced against SP figure Maria Alam Khan and Congress leader Salman Khurshid, citing violations of Section 188 and Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code and the Representation of the People Act due to their purported involvement in instigating communal tensions through their speeches.
The rally, organized by Salman Khurshid, was marked by hostile speeches and later became viral on multiple social networking sites.
Severely concerned over the demand for 'vote jihad' by Maria Alam Khan, the niece of former Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid, who proposed the INDIA bloc candidate in Kayamganj, the Election Commission has condemned the appeal.
The FIR was formally filed by Flying Squad Magistrate Dr. Manoj Kumar Sharma.
In her speech, Maria Alam Khan claimed that given the prevailing situation of suffering of the minority group, every individual has a duty to engage in 'vote jihad,' and that each one of them must take up the responsibility of protecting the Constitution in the process.
Responding to queries regarding Maria Alam Khan's usage of 'vote jihad', Salman Khurshid explained, "Typically, we refrain from employing such terminology due to potential misinterpretations. Jihad signifies a struggle against adverse circumstances. Presumably, her intention was to advocate for 'vote jihad' as a means to uphold the sanctity of the Constitution."
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