Congress leader Salman Khurshid, niece booked over her ‘vote jihad’ appeal at UP rally

The FIR was filed under Sections 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs.) and 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant) of the Indian Penal Code and and Section 125 of the Representation of People’s Act at the Kaiyamganj police station in Farrukhabad district.

The Samajwadi Party is contesting the Lok Sabha elections in alliance with the Congress. Maria, the daughter of late former MLA Izhar Alam Khan, is vice-president of SP’s Farrukhabad district unit.

In her speech, Maria, in her forties, reportedly urged those present to practice “vote jihad” discreetly and intelligently, stating that they can remove the party in power from government only by doing this.

She also urged people to unite to save the country’s Constitution.

In a video doing rounds on social media, Maria is purportedly heard saying “Apni haisiyat aur apni aukat insaan ko sabse pehley samajhna chahiye. (Kyon) ki hum sirf ab jitaney aur haraney key rehgaye. Agar ab bhi hum ek nahi hue to yeh samajh lena yahan sey hamara namon naksh mitaney key liye yeh Sanghi sarkar jo koshish kar rahi hai usko tum kamyab karney ka kaam karogey. Uskey mansubo ko kamyab karney ka kaam karogey. Isliye bahut akalmandi ke saath bahut jaldbaazi main na hokey bahut khamoshi key saath ek saath hokey vote ka jihad karo. Kyonki hum sirf voton ka jihad kar saktey hai aur is Sanghi sarkar ko haraney ka kaam kar saktey hai (First, one must understand their position because we are only left with helping in a victory or a defeat. If we don’t unite now, our identity will be erased, which the Sanghi (BJP) government is attempting to do. You will end up help them win. Now only do jihad through votes and working towards defeating this Sanghi government).”

“I felt ashamed to hear that some Muslims organised a meeting here for Mukesh Rajput (BJP’s). I feel the society should boycott them. Don’t become so selfish and play with lives of our children,” she added.

BJP’s Farrukhabad district president Rupesh Gupta said, “Maria Alam Khan’s speech reflects the mentality of the Congress and the Samajwadi Party. Such words remind us of our neighboring country Pakistan.”

They will file a complaint with the Election Commission about this, Gupta said.

When contacted, Maria Alam clarified that she used the Urdu word “jihad,” which means struggle, to encourage members of her community to participate in the electoral process. “I urged them to exercise their right to vote and to actively participate in the democratic process. My intention was never to offend anyone. My family includes individuals from diverse castes and religions, so there is no reason for me to make any objectionable remarks.”

Samajwadi Party district president Chandra Pal Singh Yadav backed her, saying, “Salman Khurshid’s niece Maria Alam used the term ‘jihad vote’ to encourage Muslim women to participate in the electoral process. Jihad, an Urdu word signifies struggle.”

Maria joined the Samajwadi Party around eight months ago, it is learnt.

Farrukhabad, with nearly 17 lakh voters, will vote in the fourth phase of elections on May 13. The BJP has fielded sitting MP Mukesh Rajput from the seat.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, Rajput defeated his nearest rival Manoj Agarwal of the BSP. Salman Khurshid (Congress) had secured the third position with 55,258 votes.