MUMBAI: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut demanded that the Muslim community should be disenfranchised to put an end to vote-bank politics, sending shock waves through political circles and triggering a firestorm of protest. The Mumbai police stepped up vigil across the city to prevent any communal in view of the article.

In a signed article in Saamna , the Sena mouthpiece, on Sunday, Raut slammed both secular and Hindutva forces for playing upon the insecurities of the Muslim community to win elections.

"In elections, some want a Muslim candidate, while others don't. Muslims will not be on the path of development if their numerical strength continues to be misused by political parties. Muslims have no future in this country if there is going to be petty politics over their voting power ... Balasaheb Thackeray had made a demand that Muslims should be stripped of their voting right. This is an appropriate demand ... The mask of secularists will come off if Muslims are disenfranchised ... Muslims should take the initiative in this connection," said Raut.

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None of the Maharashtra BJP leaders were willing to go on record on the Saamna article. "Keep us out of this. We have enough muck on our plate," remarked a senior state BJP functionary. However, he added that Raut's rants will make the state BJP government "vulnerable" to fresh rounds of criticism from the left, secular forces and the Opposition Congress-NCP group.

BJP spokesperson Shrikant Sharma said in New Delhi, "Owaisi brothers play communal politics. However, this does not mean that any community should be stripped of its democratic rights. This is Shiv Sena's personal view and BJP does not agree with it. This country belongs to 125 crore people and it runs according to a Constitution where everyone above the age of 18 has voting rights."

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Several Muslim and Congress leaders demanded criminal proceedings against Raut. Mumbai Congress President Sanjay Nirupam and senior leader Sachin Sawant demanded the Raut’s Raja Sabha membership should be revoked. Nirupam condemned Raut’s article, saying, now the onus is on chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to initiate criminal proceedings against Raut. "If Fadnavis does not act, then it will mean that he was endorsing the views expressed by Raut,” he said, adding Shiv Sena and MIM should be derecognized and barred from contesting polls.

Muslim leaders demanded Raut’s immediate arrest for trying to breach peace and communal harmony. MIM legislator Waris Pathan said the comments were aimed at creating hatred. "We demand Fadnavis file a criminal case against him or else MIM will move the court against Raut," Pathan told TOI. Pathan said if Raut was serious on his demand, he should first ensure that Muslim members in the Union Cabinet, including Najma Heptullah are sacked immediately.

Senior NCP functionary Nawab Malik said India can march ahead only if Muslims are treated with respect and a sense of equality. Malik said Raut’s article was out of frustration. "Raut knows that Shiv Sena nominee Trupti Sawant will be defeated in the byelection since most of the Muslims have moved in favour of the Congress," he said, adding, "If Raut had the courage, he should have written the article before the polling day."

A senior police official said that no one will be allowed to take law into their hands, and all steps will be taken to ensure the situation stays normal. "We have sought the opinion of the law and judiciary department on whether Raut’s article attracts provisions of the IPC, particularly section 153A (which deals with hate speech). He said alerts have been sounded across the state to be on guard against any communal flare-ups.

Interestingly, Raut also lashed out at Hindutva forces for playing the Muslim card for political gains. It appears that Hindutva leaders tacitly support a radical Muslim leader as he helps polarization of votes which actually helps patriotic parties to flaunt their stripes, said Raut, adding, "The crux of the problem is that every political party wants to provoke the Muslim community for its political benefit ... Hindutva leaders are playing with national security if they think division of Muslim votes will bring them huge electoral success."

"We (saffron parties) tend to purr with delight when an Owaisi or a Mulayam Yadav appeases the Muslim community. We think we've got a good point for the poll campaign. We think rabid, anti-Hindu speeches by such extremist leaders will result in polarisation of votes ... But, no one thinks of the country's security ... With such venom in the air, Hindus and this country will not last longer...Muslims will outnumber Hindus in the next 50 years and we will be slaves carrying the weight of a Muslim nation in India," Raut predicted.

"Right to vote is provided by the Constitution to every valid citizen of India. A case should be filed against Raut and he should be arrested for suggesting that Muslims be denied this constitutional right,” said Maulana Athar Ali, senior cleric and member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board at a conference for Muslim reservation.

While stating that he felt "awfully sorry" while writing the Saamna piece, Raut said, "However, surgery is often needed to restore one's health." He said exploiting Muslims for winning elections will threaten India's territorial integrity and security.