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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Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has rejected calls for his resignation amid allegations involving his daughter’s IT firm, which is under investigation by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO). Vijayan termed the probe politically driven and stated that neither he nor the CPI(M) is concerned about the allegations.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Vijayan said, “I know you want my blood, but you won’t get it easily,” responding to criticism and speculation about his resignation. He asserted that the case is before the court and would be dealt with legally. “You can keep hoping for my resignation,” he added.
The controversy centres on alleged illegal payments made by a private mining company, CMRL, to Vijayan’s daughter’s firm. Reports indicate that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) may also register a case soon, following the Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs’ reported nod for prosecution.
Vijayan maintained that all payments received by the firm were taxed. “The media is conveniently ignoring the fact that income tax and GST were paid on those payments,” he said.
