NEW DELHI: Former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi on Monday sharply responded to BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s controversial comment calling it an try to weaponise faith for divisive politics.
Quraishi, who served as CEC between 2010 and 2012, mentioned he firmly believes in an India the place people are recognised for his or her contributions and never lowered to their spiritual identities. “I served on the constitutional submit of Election Commissioner to the perfect of my means and had an extended and fulfilling profession within the IAS,” Quraishi advised PTI. “I imagine in an concept of India the place a person is outlined by his or her skills and contributions and never by their spiritual identities.”
In a pointed comment directed at Dubey, Quraishi mentioned, “However I suppose, for some, spiritual identities are a staple to ahead their hateful politics. India has, is and can at all times arise and struggle for its constitutional establishments and rules.”
Ballot
Do you imagine that political assaults on people based mostly on spiritual id must be condemned?
Quraishi’s feedback come after he criticised the Waqf (Modification) Act on social media, calling it a “blatantly sinister evil plan of the federal government to seize Muslim lands.” His submit learn: “Wakf Act is undoubtedly a blatantly sinister evil plan of the govt. to seize Muslim lands. I’m certain SC will name it out. Misinformation by the mischievous propaganda machine has finished its job effectively.”
Dubey’s ‘muslim commissioner’ slur sparks row
Earlier, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey launched a private assault on Quraishi, saying, “You weren’t an election commissioner, you have been a Muslim commissioner. The utmost variety of Bangladeshi infiltrators have been made voters in Santhal Pargana in Jharkhand throughout your tenure.” He additionally invoked historical past to justify his claims, including that Muslim invaders destroyed his village of Vikramshila and that there can be “no extra partitions” in India.
Dubey’s remarks adopted his earlier tirade towards the Supreme Court docket and Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, prompting the BJP to distance itself from his statements.
Defending Quraishi, retired IAS officer Ok Mahesh mentioned the previous CEC “held these nice assignments with aplomb and distinction” and was instrumental in reforming the Election Commission by founding divisions centered on voter schooling and election expenditure.
He added that Quraishi was praised by Gopalkrishna Gandhi—grandson of Mahatma Gandhi—as “some of the outstanding CECs that we now have ever had or are prone to have.”
