India / Ban on contesting elections of parties with religious names?

New Delhi. Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) filed its counter affidavit in the Supreme Court on the plea to derecognise and debar political parties from contesting elections in the country using religious symbols and religious names. Have done. In this affidavit, AIMIM and Indian Union Muslim League ie IUML raised questions on petitioner Wasim Rizvi and said that the purpose of this petition is to target only Muslim parties.

In fact, Jitendra Tyagi alias Wasim Rizvi has filed a petition in the Supreme Court demanding cancellation of registration of such political parties, which use religious names or religious symbols in the name of the party. In its counter affidavit, AIMIM has said that mere mention of the word 'Muslim' in the name of the party does not make any special appeal to voters on the basis of religion and cannot be said to violate the principles of secularism.

'Votes are not sought in the name of religion'

AIMIM's affidavit states that AIMIM's constitution does not mention or instruct its members to seek votes in the name of religion, rather its membership is open to all individuals irrespective of their caste, creed or religion. The party has said, 'The main objective of this 60-year-old party is to protect the socio-cultural and religious ethos of the minorities and other deprived sections in India. Especially in Hyderabad and its surrounding area.

AIMIM has claimed that it is ready to undertake other welfare measures as well, such as promoting education within the society. He has not violated any provision of the Representation of the People Act. The party said, "The petitioner has failed to cite any specific example. This PIL is politically motivated and the petitioner Syed Waseem Rizvi has failed to disclose his affiliation with political parties.

Questions raised on petitioner Wasim Rizvi

It states that the petitioner is a former member of the Samajwadi Party and had contested and won the municipal elections in the year 2008 from Kashmiri Mohalla ward in Lucknow. As per the reports currently available online, the petitioner is known to be close to another political party in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

It has also been stated in this counter affidavit that the petitioner is embroiled in several controversies and was recently in judicial custody in connection with several FIRs. In this, questioning Jitendra Tyagi alias Wasim Rizvi, it has been said that 'this entire petition is hate speech and is nothing more than a manifesto of a party. The language of the petition as well as the unverified facts stated in it seem like an attempt to create a divide between the two communities.