EC's decision an act of 'political violence' aimed at finishing off Shiv Sena out of fear: Raut
Mumbai (PTI): Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday slammed the Election Commission (EC) for its move to recognise the faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as the real Shiv Sena, and termed its decision as a form of political violence aimed at finishing off the party.
He also said that all political parties need to ask the poll watchdog the definition of a political party.
In a big blow to Thackeray, the EC on Friday allotted the name 'Shiv Sena' and its poll symbol 'bow and arrow' to the group led by CM Shinde. This is for the first time that the Thackeray family has lost control of the party that was founded in 1966 by Bal Thackeray on the principles of justice for the sons of the soil.
"The EC order is a form of political violence to finish off the Shiv Sena and it is an act done out of fear and revenge," Raut alleged while talking to reporters at Kankavli in Maharashtra's Sindhudurg district.
There is a party that is more than 50 years old and some of whose MLAs and MPs defected under pressure, he said while referring to Shiv Sena.
The Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader also described the EC's decision as a violation of law, Constitution and people's will.
He dared the government to call for fresh elections and seek a mandate from the people to see the Shiv Sena belong to whom.
"The party and people are with Uddhav Thackeray and the legal battle will continue," Raut said.
Shinde had rebelled against Thackeray's leadership in June last year and formed a government in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
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Muslim leaders submit memorandum to JPC member Imran Masood against Waqf Bill
Jaipur (PTI): A delegation of Muslim leaders associated with the Congress met party MP Imran Masood, who is a member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, in Ajmer on Sunday and submitted a memorandum against the provisions of the bill.
The bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on August 8 and referred to a joint parliamentary panel after a heated debate. The 31-member panel will submit its report by the next session of Parliament.
While the government has asserted that the proposed law did not intend to interfere with the functioning of mosques, the opposition called it targeting of Muslims and an attack on the Constitution.
The delegation of Muslim leaders met Masood, who was on a visit to Ajmer, and said the members of the community are opposed to the amendments because Waqf is a religious matter of the Muslims.
"We will not allow the government to interfere in our religious matters. The Constitution allows us to function according to our religion. The truth is that the government's intentions are not right," stated the memorandum addressed to the JPC's head Jagdambika Pal.
"Waqf is a completely religious matter and interference in it will not be right," it said.
The delegation included Ghulam Mustafa Chishti, Muzaffar Bharti, Rab Nawaz Jafri, Manzoor Ali, Ashraf Buland Khan, Ajmat Khan and Wahid Mohammad.
