"Lotus a religious symbol": IUML tells Supreme Court BJP should be impleaded in plea against political parties with religious symbols, names

The lotus symbol of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is associated with Hinduism and Buddhism and the ruling party should, therefore, be made a a respondent in a petition to ban the use of religious symbols and names by political parties, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) told the Supreme Court on Monday [Syed Waseem Rizvi vs Election Commission of India and Ors.]..The IUML was earlier made party to the petition on the ground that it is using a religious name and symbol.The IUML in an application filed before the apex court, claimed that the BJP's lotus symbol is a religious one as it is related to Hindu Gods as well as Buddhism. "According to Hinduism, within each human is the spirit of the sacred lotus. It represents eternity, purity, divinity, and is widely used as a symbol of life, fertility, ever-renewing youth. The lotus flower is used to describe feminine beauty, especially female eyes. For Buddhists, the lotus flower symbolizes the most exalted state of human; head held high, pure and undefiled in the sun, feet rooted in the world of experience. Further it is submitted that, God Vishnu, Brahma, Shiva and Lakshmi Mata are also associated with the lotus flower in Hinduism," the application added.Therefore, it claimed that it was crystal clear that the lotus is a religious symbol related to Hinduism and Buddhism..The IUML in its application also said the following 27 political parties, which are allegedly using religion in their name, symbol or carrying religious connotations in their symbol, should also be made party to the case. .Shiromani Akali DalShiv SenaAkhil Bharatiya Muslim League (Secular)Akhil Bharathiya Ram Rajyya ParishadAkhil Bharathiya Shiv Sena RashtrawadiAll India Christian Democratic and Backward People’s PartyChristian Democratic FrontChristian Mannetra KazhakamHindu Ekta Andolan PartyHindu MunnaniHindu SamhathiHindu Makkal KatchiHindu MahasabhaHindu SenaIndian Christian FrontIndian Christian Secular PartyIslam Party HindMajdoor Kisan Akali DalMuslim Majlis Uttar PradeshPaschim Banga Rajya Muslim LeagueSehajdhari Sikh PartyShiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar – Simranjit Singh Mann)Shiromani Akali Dal (Republic)Shiromani Youth Akali Dal (Kahlon)Shiromani Lok Dal PartyShivaji Congress PartyShivrajya Party.The application pointed out that despite the apex court passing an order granting liberty to the petitioner to add political parties against which relief is sought, only All India Majlis E Ittehadul Muslimeen and Indian Union Muslim League were impleaded."Despite this Hon’ble Court’s order dated 5.9.2022, the petitioner failed to implead all the political parties which are using religious names, symbols or religious connotation and had impleaded only the respondent No.3 and 4 i.e, All India Majlis E Ittehadul Muslimeen and Indian Union Muslim League," the plea stated..The IUML's application was filed in a petition by former Shia Waqf Board chief, Waseem Rivzi (currently Jitendra Tyagi) raising grievance with the registration of political parties that have religious names, symbols, or logos with religious connotations.Tyagi has contended that using religion for luring voters is strictly prohibited under Section 123 of the Representation of People Act. This Act prohibits a candidate or his agent from mixing political benefits with religious feelings, added the petitioner..In September 2022, the Supreme Court had sought responses from the Central government and Election Commission of India in the matter.The Court also allowed Tyagi to implead those political parties it believed had violated the Representation of People Act in the case.The IUML was one of such parties impleaded in the case. In its reply filed earlier, IUML submitted that Rizvi has not come clean on his antecedents, and that the plea ought to be dismissed with exemplary costs.Restrictions on the use of religious symbols etc. do not apply to political parties as per the Representation of People Act, the IUML added in its affidavit..At today's hearing, a bench of Justices MR Shah and CT Ravikumar gave counsel for the respondents four weeks' time to place on record similar such pleas pending before the Delhi and other High Courts.Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave and advocate Haris Beeran appeared for IUML. .We are secular; role in ensuring peace in Kerala after Babri Masjid demolition well documented: IUML to Supreme Court