EC issues notice to Mamata over Muslim vote appeal
India's Election Commission yesterday issued a notice to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asking her to explain her comments made during an election campaign meeting on April 3 when she asked the Muslims not to vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party.
According to the EC notice issued this evening, the complaint refers to a portion of Mamata's speech at the election rally in Tarakeshwar: "... I am requesting my minority brothers and sisters with folded hands... don't divide the minority votes after listening to the devil... who had taken money from the BJP... He passes many communal statements and initiates clashes between Hindus and Muslims... comrades of the CPM and BIP is roaming around with money given by BJP to divide the minority votes".
EC has given Mamata 48 hours to explain her remarks.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on the same day said her remarks reflected that minority votes are slipping out of her hands.
According to the 2011 Census, Muslims comprise 27 per cent of the state's population.
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