FIR filed against Sakshi Maharaj

Meerut/New Delhi: An FIR was filed against BJP lawmaker Sakshi Maharaj in Meerut on Saturday, for saying that Muslims are responsible for India's population rise.

The party, however, has disowned the remark saying neither the BJP, nor the government agrees with such comments. "The population rise is not because of Hindus.

Population has risen due to those who support the concept of four wives and 40 children," the lawmaker from Uttar Pradesh's Unnao said on Friday while addressing an event in Meerut, in the state's west.

"This shouldn't be seen as BJP's stand," Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said. Sakshi Maharaj's clarification on Saturday did nothing to calm the outrage. "The population is increasing by the day.

A woman is not a machine. It is not acceptable to have four wives, 40 children and three divorces... We should be rewarded as I have four brothers and we all are unmarried and we don't have any children," Sakshi Maharaj said.

The BJP lawmaker's controversial comments come right ahead of elections in Uttar Pradesh where polling dates have been announced by the Election Commission.

Uttar Pradesh will go to polls in seven phases from February 11 to March 8, and the Model Code of Conduct is in place.

The Congress, which has hit out at the BJP over Maharaj's remarks, says it will approach the Election Commission demanding action.

"The speech of Sakshi Maharaj based on religion and caste is very offensive and it violates the Model Code of Conduct. I feel action should be taken.

We will definitely move the Election Commission," Congress' KC Mittal said.