"Election Officer started investigation, report may come soon": BJP's Kirit Somaiya on Maulana Sajjad Nomani 'divisive' remarks

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 17 (ANI): BJP leader Kirit Somaiya on Sunday asserted that the District Election Officer of Parbhani district has started its investigation into the alleged divisive remarks by Maulana Khalilur Rehman Sajjad Nomani and suggested that the report may come by this evening.
BJP Leader Somaiya had filed a complaint against Maulana Khalilur Rehman Sajjad Nomani for his alleged divisive remarks with the officials of Maharashtra Election Commission.
Speaking to ANI on the issue, Somaiya said, "Maulana Khalilur Rehman Sajjad Nomani had given a statement that social boycott of those who support BJP is vote jihad. Regarding the complaint, I had made, the officials of Maharashtra Election Commission have given this information. The District Election Officer of Parbhani district has started its investigation. It is hoped that the report will also be ready by this evening."
Lashing out at the NCP-SCP chief Sharad Pawar and the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, Kirit Somaiya accused them of extending their support to the All India Ulema Board and accepting their demands of 10 percent reservation and a ban on RSS.
He said, "...Does Sharad Pawar feel ashamed or is he scared to speak about Hindus? ...No one makes statements like Maulana Khalilur Rahman Sajjad Nomani, that if any Hindu votes against the BJP, then socially boycott them and name them Abdul Rehman. This kind of language does not exist in Hindutva. Sharad Pawar Sahab, you extended your support to the All India Ulema Board. Sharad Pawar and the Congress supported the Marathi Muslim Seva Sangh. Sharad Pawar and MVA accepted their demands to ban RSS and give 10 percent reservation. Sharad Pawar spread things like vote jihad. The family of Rahul Gandhi, Salman Khurshid spread vote jihad...They should feel ashamed"
BJP leader also took a jibe at the Shiv Sena UBT and its leaders Uddhav Thackeray and Sanjay Raut, saying that they should stop their drama, as the Election Commission is checking everyone's bag, whether Home Minister Amit Shah or Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
"Uddhav Thackeray's situation has worsened, they (Uddhav Thackeray and Sanjay Raut) created a lot of drama and abused the Election Commission. They said the EC checked their bag, now the Election Commission says they check everyone's bag, whether it is Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, or Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Uddhav Thackeray should stop this drama," Somaiya said.
Earlier on Saturday, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis lashed out at Maulana Khalilur Rehman Sajjad Nomani for his alleged divisive remarks and accused the Congress and its allies of using polarisation tactics to gain votes ahead of the elections.
Speaking in Nagpur, Fadnavis said, "In the video that has come out, he is calling to find and boycott those who supported BJP in the Lok Sabha elections. He further calls for vote jihad and says that our leaders for vote jihad are Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, and Rahul Gandhi. What kind of politics is going on? We have never seen this kind of polarization in politics before. Congress and its allies, due to the panic of defeat, are trying to bring forward such ideas that divide the society and the country."
The 288 Maharashtra Assembly elections will be held in a single phase on November 20, with the vote count happening on November 23.
Campaigning has intensified for the 288 assembly seats in Maharashtra with both the ruling Mahayuti and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) making efforts to woo the electorate. (ANI)