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A total of 58 current MPs and MLAs have declared cases related to hate speech, with BJP having the maximum number of such politicians, a report said on 26 April.
"15 sitting Lok Sabha MPs have declared cases related to hate speech against themselves. None of the Rajya Sabha MPs have declared cases related to hate speech," a report by Delhi-based think-tank Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said.
BJP has 27 MPs, MLAs with such cases, All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has 6, TRS (6), TDP (3), SHS (3), AITC (2), INC (2), IND (2), JD(U) (2), AIUDF (1), BSP (1), DMK (1), PMK (1) and SP (1), the ADR report added.
"Political party leaders such as Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM) and Badruddin Ajmal (AIUDF) have declared cases related to hate speech against themselves," ADR said.
Also, Uma Bharti, Union Cabinet Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation, has declared such cases along with eight state ministers, the report added.
Among party-wise distribution of MLAs, 17 sitting MLAs with such declared cases are from BJP, five each are from TRS and AIMIM, three from TDP, two each from INC, AITC, JD(U) and SHS, one each from DMK, BSP, SP and two Independent MLAs, the report added.
ADR and National Election Watch (NEW) have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all sitting MPs and MLAs. The analysis reveals that many of them have declared cases related to hate speech.
The analysis is based on the affidavits submitted by the candidates and MPs/MLAs prior to the last election they contested.
The report further said 11 sitting MLAs with such cases are from Telangana, four from Bihar, nine from Uttar Pradesh and four from Maharashtra.
Besides, three MLAs each are from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, two each from Uttarakhand and West Bengal and one MLA each from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Jharkhand.
ADR said it believes that strict action must be taken against the candidates giving hate speech prior and during elections, and against the elected legislators even after elections, if found guilty of indulging in hate speech.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked BJP leaders to refrain from making "irresponsible" statements, saying such comments hurt the party's image.
Also, in the last five years, 28 independent candidates with declared cases related to hate speech have contested elections for state assemblies, Lok/Rajya Sabha.
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