‘Love jihad’: Indore terminates Anwar Qadri’s councillorship
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Indore: The councillorship of Congress's Anwar Qadri, arrested in connection with an alleged 'love jihad' funding case, was terminated by a two-thirds majority during the Indore civic body meeting on Thursday, reports PTI.
This is likely the first instance in the country where a councillor's membership has been terminated for alleged involvement in a 'love jihad' case, officials said. It is also seen as a punitive action taken against an elected representative without due judicial process where he is punished for an 'llegal' act, and that when charges against him are still pending.
The term 'love jihad' is used by right-wing organisations to claim that there is a conspiracy by Muslim men to lure women of other religions into marriage to convert them to Islam.
During the municipal corporation meeting, Chairman Munnalal Yadav announced that the resolution to terminate Congress councillor Qadri's membership had been passed by a two-thirds majority.
Indore is considered a stronghold of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The party dominates the Municipal Corporation in terms of the number of councillors.
"Qadri, who is in jail, has several cases registered against him for arranging funds for love jihad and other serious charges. His continuing as a councillor was not in the interest of both the city and the Municipal Corporation. Qadri's membership was terminated as per a resolution passed by a two-thirds majority under the Madhya Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act 1956," Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava told reporters.
The Congress, which has remained silent on the serious allegations against Qadri, should answer whether it supports 'love jihad', Bhargava added.
Before the resolution against Qadri could be discussed, Congress councillors left the House and staged a sit-in protest outside.
Leader of the Opposition in the Municipal Corporation, Chintu Chouksey, said, "The Municipal Council has no right to remove an elected councillor (Qadri) in this manner. The BJP does not want to discuss basic issues like the city's poor traffic, potholes, and poor drainage system. It only engages in communal politics."