New Delhi : Terming comments made by Samajwadi Party’s Maharashtra unit chief Abu Azmi on Muslims as “totally deplorable”, the Congress Friday asked the Election Commission (EC) to take exemplary action against the leader.
At an April 30 election rally in Khalilabad in Sant Kabir Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh, Azmi said: “If any Muslim opposes the Samajwadi Party, have a DNA test done, he could be an RSS man. Muslims who don’t vote for the Samajwadi Party are not true Muslims.”
In a strongly worded complaint to the commission, the Congress said: “In a country like ours, which has been founded on the principles of secularism, being the basic structure of the constitution, such statement by Abu Azmi is totally deplorable and condemnable, apart from being against the unity and integrity of India.”
“The Congress is committed to secularism and maintenance of communal harmony in the country and we do not support individuals, groups or associations who indulge in such activities and make inflammatory statements to spread communal hatred. Such activities should be curbed and dealt with strongly to preserve the unity and integrity of India,” the complaint said.
The party asked the commission to take a “serious note of the statement made by Abu Azmi”.
It also asked the EC to take “immediate exemplary action against such forces before much damage is caused”.