In a complaint to the Election Commission of India (ECI) and Telangana election authorities, Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) has accused BJP leader Bandi Sanjay Kumar of making communal, derogatory, and religion-based appeals for votes during a campaign roadshow in Hyderabad’s Jubilee Hills by-election — claiming that his remarks “mock religious practices, deride constitutional secularism, and weaponise faith for political gain.”
The complaint, addressed to the Chief Electoral Officer (Telangana), the Director General of Police (Telangana), and the Chief Election Commissioner, details how Kumar used the BJP’s roadshow at Borabanda Crossroads, Jubilee Hills, to launch a series of public remarks that demeaned Islamic religious practices while glorifying Hindu identity as a test of authenticity and courage.
Among his most inflammatory statements were:
“If a day comes when I must wear a skull cap for votes, I’d rather cut off my head.”
“I’m an unapologetic Hindu — I won’t insult other faiths by faking a namaz.”
He further mocked Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and a Congress candidate for wearing skull caps, questioning their sincerity and daring them to “prove their Hindu courage” by visiting temples with Muslim leaders.
CJP’s complaint deemed these remarks to be “a textbook example of hate speech” and a direct violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (RPA), and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS).
Religious mockery as political appeal
According to the complaint, Kumar’s statements do not merely express religious pride — they constitute a deliberate and divisive appeal to religion for electoral gain. By contrasting “unapologetic Hindu authenticity” with “fake Muslim gestures,” the speech urges voters to make electoral choices based on religious identity rather than policy or performance.
CJP has alleged violations under:
- Section 123(3) (appeal on religious grounds) and Section 123(3A) (promotion of enmity) of the RPA,
- Section 125 (offence of promoting enmity between classes in elections),
- and Sections 196, 297, and 356 of the BNS, which criminalise promoting enmity, public mischief, and deliberate insult to religion.
The complaint notes that these remarks, made at a public, recorded, and widely disseminated campaign event, fall squarely within the ambit of hate speech and constitute both a criminal offence and an electoral malpractice.
Erosion of Constitutional values
CJP’s complaint situates the incident within the constitutional mandate of secularism and equality, citing Articles 14, 15, 19, 21, and 25 of the Constitution. It argues that by mocking the skull cap and namaz, Kumar has not only insulted the religious sentiments of a community but has also degraded the dignity of Muslim citizens, violating their rights to equality, dignity, and free profession of religion.
Quoting the Supreme Court’s judgment in Abhiram Singh v. C.D. Commachen (2017), CJP reminds the ECI that “religion cannot be used to influence the choice of voters — even indirectly.” Kumar’s remarks, it states, are not “expressions of faith” but “acts of public provocation designed to divide voters and delegitimise inclusivity.”
Impact on the electoral climate
The Jubilee Hills constituency, home to a diverse and interfaith electorate, has already witnessed heightened polarisation. CJP provides that Kumar’s remarks risk inflaming communal sentiments, intimidating minority voters, and damaging the fairness and integrity of the election.
The complaint further asserts that the remarks have the potential to chill interfaith coexistence by equating expressions of respect (like wearing a skull cap) with betrayal, while valorising exclusivist religious assertion as political bravery.
CJP’s demands
CJP has urged the Election Commission and state authorities to act swiftly and decisively:
- Take cognisance of the video evidence of the Jubilee Hills roadshow and register an FIR under relevant provisions of the RPA and BNS.
- Debar Bandi Sanjay Kumar from further campaigning pending inquiry.
- Issue a public censure to the BJP and all political parties to refrain from religiously provocative campaigning.
- Forward the complaint to the ECI for further constitutional action under Article 324.
Reclaiming the secular spirit of elections
CJP emphasised the dangerous descent into hate-driven politics as dangerous by providing that when a political leader declares that wearing a skull cap merits decapitation and ridicules namaz as performance, it ceases to be political speech — it becomes humiliation, hate, and a constitutional offence. Through this complaint, CJP calls upon the Election Commission to reaffirm its constitutional duty to keep elections secular, equal, and dignified — ensuring that faith remains a matter of conscience, not a tool for votes.
The Complaint can be read here:
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