Kolhapur panchayat bars enrolment of 'new Muslim voters,' faces backlash
Kolhapur: The gram panchayat of Shingnapur village in Maharashtra's Kolhapur district passed a resolution on 5 September barring the registration of new Muslim voters in electoral rolls. The panchayat's decision, which specifically targets Muslims 'recently arrived' in the village, has sparked controversy, with local rights groups calling it unconstitutional.
The resolution demands that the names of new Muslim voters be excluded from the rolls and any names already included be removed. The panchayat clarified that the decision was made to address concerns over 'illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.'
Muslim rights bodies, including the Muslim Education Society, have condemned the move, stating it violates the Indian Constitution. They filed a complaint with the District Magistrate, demanding criminal action against those responsible and calling for the panchayat's suspension.
In response to the backlash, Sarpanch Rasika Patil issued a video statement, claiming the resolution was being misrepresented to harm communal harmony. She expressed regret for the miscommunication and apologized to the Muslim community, assuring that no such actions would be taken.
This is not the first controversy for the Shingnapur panchayat. In August 2023, it passed a resolution prohibiting the allotment of village land for religious functions, specifically targeting land assigned to the Waqf Board.
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Apologise for Assam MP's remark on Muslims not allowed to offer Eid prayers on streets: CM Himanta
Guwahati(PTI): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said he felt "ashamed" that an MP from his state had asserted in Parliament during the Waqf Bill debate that Muslims were not allowed to offer Eid prayers on streets, and issued an apology.
''The people of Assam also do not want to offer 'namaz' on streets when there are beautiful and good mosques in the state'', the CM said at a press conference after a cabinet meeting.
Sarma was apparently referring to Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, though he did not name him directly.
Gogoi, during the debate, had criticised the government for allegedly preventing Muslims from offering Eid prayers on streets, questioning the BJP’s commitment to minority rights
''People from across the country are calling me about it. We are ashamed and I as the CM apologise to people across the country'', Sarma said.
There has been no demand from Muslims that they want to offer prayers on roads, he added.
He further alleged that the MP’s remarks created the impression that only one community contributed to India’s freedom struggle.
''This MP went to the extreme of highlighting only one community’s role. There was no mention of Mahatma Gandhi, Gopinath Bordoloi, Subhas Chandra Bose, or other key figures," Sarma said.
Replying to a question on the BJP's prospects in the forthcoming panchayat polls scheduled to be held in two phases on May 2 and 7, Sarma said, ''It will be good in all the elections- panchayat, Rabha Hasong Council, Bodoland Territorial Council and assembly polls as the people of Assam have immense faith and confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi."
"It is only the extreme statements made by a particular MP from Assam in Parliament which has made us sad and we are feeling ashamed about it'', he added.
People of Assam will ''teach a lesson to such people when the time comes'', the CM said.
