EC issues notice to BJP's Maneka Gandhi for communal remarks

Addressing an election rally on Thursday in Uttar Pradesh's Sultanpur, Gandhi told Muslims to vote for her as they will need her once the Lok Sabha elections are over.

Gandhi maintained that her remarks were quoted out of context./ Manekagandhibjp/ TWITTER

NEW DELHI: After the Congress on Friday moved the Election Commission over Maneka Gandhi's remarks on Muslims, the Union Minister was served a show-cause notice by the Election Commission. Sultanpur's District Magistrate issued the notice after the Election Commission took cognisance of the matter and asked Gandhi to explain her remarks.

Congress had raised the issue of the remarks made by Maneka Gandhi. The party demanded that an FIR be registered against Maneka Gandhi and cancel her nomination.

Addressing an election rally on Thursday in Uttar Pradesh's Sultanpur, Gandhi told Muslims to vote for her as they will need her once the Lok Sabha elections are over.

"We are not Mahatma Gandhi's children that we keep giving and not get anything in return," she said in Muslim-dominated Turabkhani area of the constituency.

Gandhi's three-minute speech went viral on social media, leading to outrage for its blatant communal content. However, Gandhi later maintained that her remarks were quoted out of context.

In the Lok Sabha election 2019, Gandhi is contesting from Sultanpur, a seat won by her son Varun Gandhi in 2014. Varun Gandhi is contesting from Pilibhit, from where his mother had won in 2014.

BJP candidate Maneka Gandhi makes communal remarks | Sansani