EC issues notice to Raju Shetti for his remarks

Mumbai: The Election Commission of India (EC) has issued show cause notice to Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS) leader Raju Shetti for his alleged anti-Brahmin remarks. Shetti, who is a Lok Sabha MP from Hatkanangale in western Maharashtra and a Congress ally now, had made derogatory remarks about Brahmins in his rally Wednesday.

Shetti had reportedly said in his rally in Hatkanangale that while farmers’ children joined the Army and fought for the country, those of the “Deshpandes and Kulkarnis” (denoting the Brahmin caste) shunned the Army but preached to others about patriotism. Due to this statement, Ankit Kane from the Brahmin Jagruti Seva Sangh had filed a complaint against Shetti with the EC on Thursday.

However, Mr Shetti on Friday had apologised for his statement and said that he intended to speak about giving justice to the kin of martyrs. Shetti also claimed that since he came from the land of Shahu Maharaj, he was incapable of having a casteist bent of mind.