BJP demands revocation of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's recognition for hate speeches

NAGPUR: The national legal cell of BJP today demanded that the Election Commission of India should revoke the recognition granted to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) for ' hate speeches' made by its leaders during the Maharashtra Assembly poll campaign.

The EC has already issued a notice to MNS chief Raj Thackeray for targeting non-Marathi speakers in his campaign speeches.

Vinod Tiwari, BJP's legal cell chief, said that Thackeray had violated the Model Code of Conduct which stipulates that no party can seek votes on the basis of religion, race, caste or language.

"The election of Shiv Sena's Ramesh Prabhu had been cancelled in the 1980s on the same ground," he said.

Tiwari alleged that Raj promised employment exclusively for Marathi-speakers in his speeches, and said that youths from other states would not be allowed to enter Maharashtra.