NEW DELHI, DEC 26: Constitutional expert and BJP member of Rajya Sabha L M Singhvi today said the idea of separate electorates or defranchisement of Muslims or any section of Indian people was unconstitutional and could only promote "narrow communalism".Refering to statements of Shiv Sena Chief Bal Thackeray and VHP leader Ashok Singhal in this regard, he said the idea of separate electorates or defranchisement of Muslims or any section of Indian people violates the letter and spirt of the constitution.
Dr Singhvi said the right to vote, vested in every Indian citizen, was an esential feature of the constitution and cannot be taken away even by a constitutional amendment.
Such a constitutional amendment would be, on the face of it, unconstitutional and would be struck down by the Supreme Court, he added.
Dr Singhvi said India could never follow the `theocratic perversions' of Pakistan which had played havoc with every norm of democracy and civilization in its tretment of minorities. ``We cannot create classes of citizens and discriminate against one of them on the basis of religion,'' he said. While agreeing that minority vote banks were created and were being created in the name of secularism, he said but retaliation by unconstitutional means was no solution.
Such suggestions would provide a boost to narrow communalism, vote bank secularism and spark off fear psychosis among the minorities, he said. This can only breed hatred, hostility and alienation in the body politic, he said.
Appealing both Mr Thackeray and Mr Singhal to join in the task of promoting National unity and integration under the leadership of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he said those who opposed Saraswati prayer and Vande Mataram were entirely wrong but it was also wrong to propose separate electorates and defranchisement of Muslims. ``Two wrongs will never make it right,'' he said.
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