Fatwas impact voters, EC should take stock: Bedi

BJP leader Kiran Bedi Wednesday urged the Election Commission (EC) to not allow the issuance of 'fatwas' that impact voters before elections.

A fatwa is a ruling on a point of Islamic law provided by a recognized authority.

"These fatwas impact the freedom of choice. A fatwa means a diktat, a directive... it means a message. They have an impact on voters," Bedi told reporters here, a day after her party was routed in the assembly polls.

Bedi, too, lost her seat.

"Should this be allowed by the EC? Is this right for a democratic process? Shouldn't the EC look into this," she asked.

A day before Delhi went to polls Feb 7, the Shahi Imam of the Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari had appealed to the Muslims of Delhi to vote for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Though the AAP slammed Bukhari for making the appeal, the Bharatiya Janata Party accused him of indulging in communal politics by dividing the voters along religious lines.

Bedi lost from the Krishna Nagar seat by a margin of over 2,000 votes. Considered to be a "traditional" seat of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a "safe" option for Bedi to contest from, the Krishna Nagar loss has come as a major embarrassment for both the party and Bedi.

The results of the 70-seat assembly polls were declared Tuesday and the AAP made a stunning comeback, winning 67 seats, and the other opposition party Congress was reduced to nought.