Raut's remark on Muslim voting rights causes stir

Says, muslims in the country were suffering due to vote bank politics

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday sparked a controversy by saying Muslims in the country were suffering because of vote-bank politics. Revoking their voting rights will solve problems and ensure end of vote bank politics.

In the party’s mouthpiece, Saamna, Raut wrote, “Till Muslims are viewed as a vote bank, their community will have no future. To end this horse trading, Balasaheb had proposed that Muslims’ voting rights be revoked, and I feel it is right.”

Raut came down heavily on All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi by calling his party a threat to the nation. “Owaisi bhai is indulging in politics of Muslim votes and we don’t know if it will benefit him or the community, but it will harm the country,” he said.

By-polls to the Bandre East Assembly seat was held on Saturday. Shiv Sena nominee, Trupti Sawant, is pitted against Congress candidate Narayan Rane and MIM nominee Rahbar Khan.

MIM, which made the by-poll a prestige issue by holding rallies and voters’ reach out programme, had attacked Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray to visit Hyderabad.