PIL seeking Rashid Masood's disqualification filed

Mumbai, July 25 (UNI) A public interest litigation (PIL) was filed in the Bombay High Court today by a city-based social worker, seeking directions to disqualify newly-formed Third Front's Vice-Presidential candidate Rashid Masood.

The petition, filed by Virendra Mishra, is likely to come up soon for hearing before the division bench of Chief Justice Swatanter Kumar and Justice Ranjana Desai.

In the PIL, Mr Mishra took exception to Mr Masood's remarks on national song -- Vande Mataram -- while giving special interview to some news channels after the announcement of his candidature for Vice Presidential elections.

Mr Masood, in the interview, had reportedly said he could not sing Vande Mataram as he was a Muslim and he will lose his religion if he sings it.

The alleged remarks, according to the petitioner, have insulted not only the people of the country, but also the nation itself. The national song is sung in both the Houses of the Parliament before the start of work and the adjournment of the House.

Questioning Mr Masood's credentials over these alleged remarks, Mr Mishra, in the petition, has sought disqualification of Mr Masood's candidature and prayed that it be cancelled, claiming that such person will not be fit to hold a constitutional post like that of the Vice-President.

UNI