Muslim Education Society urges legal action against members of Shanganapur Gram Panchayat in Kolhapur district
Team Clarion
KOLHAPUR – In a move that has drawn sharp criticism, the Shanganapur Gram Panchayat in Kolhapur district passed a controversial resolution barring the registration of new Muslim voters in the village. The resolution, which was passed on 5 September, stated that names of Muslims who had “recently arrived in the village” should not be included in the voter list. The panchayat further declared it would remove any such names if found during the publication of the voter list.
The resolution has sparked outrage among local Muslim organisations who have filed a formal complaint with the district magistrate calling for an FIR to be lodged against the sarpanch and the panchayat members involved. The Muslim Education Society (MES) lodged its complaint on Sunday condemning the resolution as discriminatory and unconstitutional.
Ghani Abdul Ajrikar, head of the Muslim Education Society, stated: “This resolution is a clear act of discrimination. Its sole purpose is to socially exclude Muslims, which is unconstitutional and violates basic rights. The Constitution grants all citizens the right to vote, and denying this right based on religion is unacceptable.”
The text of the resolution, issued on the letterhead of the Shanganapur Gram Panchayat, reads: “During the registration of new voters in Shanganapur village, the names of recently arrived members of the minority (Muslim) community should not be included in the new voter list. Furthermore, if such names appear in the published list, the gram panchayat will remove them.”
The controversial decision has led to widespread concerns about Islamophobia in the region. The complaint filed by MES emphasised the violation of constitutional rights and called for immediate action. “A case should be registered against the sarpanch and panchayat members involved in this illegal resolution,” Ajrikar added.
In response to the backlash, Shanganapur Sarpanch Rasika Patil issued a video statement, claiming the resolution had been misunderstood. She explained, “A few weeks ago, two ‘Bangladeshi’ Muslim women arrived in the village with Aadhaar cards, appearing to live as Indian citizens. The issue was raised in the Gram Sabha, and this resolution was aimed at addressing that specific situation. However, it is now being portrayed in a way that threatens the peace and order of society.”
Despite the clarification, Muslim organisations remain adamant that the resolution is unconstitutional and have demanded immediate legal action. The incident has raised concerns over the growing trend of Islamophobia and the potential for social discord.
As the issue continues to unfold, authorities have yet to take formal action against the panchayat members. Local political and community leaders have also voiced concern over the situation, urging the panchayat to uphold the constitutional rights of all citizens.
