BJP distances itself from Shiv Sena, says all Indians have equal rights

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday distanced itself from the Shiv Sena over the latter's remarks demanding the withdrawal of voting rights from Muslims, adding that every citizen of the nation has equal rights, irrespective of their religion.

"The BJP does not subscribe to this kind of view. It may be the Shiv Sena's views but certainly not the BJP's. This country belongs to 125 crore Indians and all Indians have equal rights. These 125 crore Indians belong to various religions: Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Christian, and they all have equal rights as Indian citizens," BJP national secretary Siddharth Nath Singh told ANI.

According to reports, Raut, in an article published in the Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna, wrote that the voting rights of Muslims should be withdrawn in order to put an end to vote bank politics. Raut also described All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leaders Asaduddin and Akbaruddin Owaisi as a 'threat to the nation'.