New Delhi: National Commission for Minorities
(NCM) on Tuesday decided to file a case for "spreading enmity
between communities" against Janata Party president
Subramanian Swamy for his article suggesting revoking voting
rights of Muslims.
The decision was taken at a Commission meeting, headed by
Chairman Wajahat Habibullah, and which was attended by among
others Vice Chairperson HT Sangliana and members HS Hanspal,
Vinod Sharma and Keki N Daruwalla.
"We will proceed with further action in consultation with
our counsel. We will register an FIR, take up the matter with
the authorities concerned -- Election Commission of India and
other organisations concerned, in a couple of days,"
Habibullah said.
He said Swamy has violated relevant sections of IPC,
Representation of Peoples' Act and IT Act and the Commission
will file case accordingly.
The Harvard-educated economic scholar, Swamy, in an
article in a newspaper said, "We need a collective mindset as
Hindus to stand against the Islamic terrorist....If any Muslim
acknowledges his or her Hindu legacy, then we Hindus can
accept him or her as a part of the Brihad Hindu Samaj (greater
Hindu society) which is Hindustan."
"Others, who refuse to acknowledge this, or those
foreigners who become Indian citizens by registration, can
remain in India but should not have voting rights (which means
they cannot be elected representatives)," the article read.
Noting that the article has "deeply offended" the
Commission, Habibullah said, "The action will be taken soon...
may be in a couple of days. The lawyer will advise us as to
what to do."
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, August 02, 2011, 16:18