Questioning polls during Ramadan shows opposition desperation: BJP

New Delhi, March 11 (IANS) The BJP on Monday targeted Opposition parties for raising questions on holding elections during Ramadan, saying their comments were an indication of their "desperation" in the face of imminent defeat."I saw a lot of sponsored comments notably from Mamataji (Mamata Banerjee) and some others that Ramadan is going to be effected due to election programme. I would like to gently remind these leaders. Don't be desperate. Even Holi and Chait Navratra are falling during the elections," Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters here.The Union Minister said that bypolls to Kairana and some other constituencies took place during Ramadan. "The comments of the leaders are an indication of their desperation as they fear imminent defeat," said Prasad.Trinamool Congress Chief Mamata Banerjee as well as some leaders from the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have expressed their displeasure over the Lok Sabha election schedule -- three final phases of which are falling during Ramadan -- saying it will inconvenience the fasting voters.Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi, however, has rejected the concerns and slammed parties for raking up the issue needlessly.
--IANS bns/rtp/bc