New Delhi: The Election Commission has taken cognisance of allegations of Model Code of Conduct violations by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and also Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge.
This comes after three days during which the poll body’s inaction over Modi’s April 21 speech at Banswara in Rajasthan has been severely criticised. A spokesperson, after repeated queries from reporters had said “we decline comment” on Modi’s speech on April 22.
The body’s similar letters to Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress will presumably do little to allay strong concerns over the EC’s lenience to the ruling party.
Illustration: Pariplab Chakraborty
Signed by principal secretary Narendra N. Butolia, the EC’s near-identical letters are both dated April 25 (today) and were sent to presidents of BJP and Congress – J.P. Nadda and Mallikarjun Kharge.
The letters do not mention the alleged MCC violators by name but identifies them as “some of [the party’s] star campaigners”. However, the complaints that led to the notices – Congress complained against Modi and BJP, against Gandhi – are attached to the respective letters.
The EC invoked Section 77 of the Representation of the People Act that pertains to star campaigners and has asked the respective party presidents to submit their reports by 11 am on April 29.
“Political parties will have to take primary and increasing responsibility for the conduct of their candidates, star campaigners in particular. Campaign speeches by those holding high positions are of more serious consequences,” it said it the letters.
The Congress had lodged a complaint with the EC against Modi’s remarks – described on global press as unprecedented hate speech – at the Rajasthan rally on April 21.
At Banswara, Modi said if Congress is voted to power, it could distribute mothers’ and sisters’ wealth among Muslims who he identified as “infiltrators” and “those who have more children”. He has made similar remarks at subsequent rallies too.
BJP’s 10-page complaint – lodged even earlier, on April 19 – is against Kharge and Gandhi’s speeches over various topics including the Ram temple, the Union government’s alleged withholding of funds to Karnataka (which was articulated by the Karnataka chief minister in an interview with The Wire as well), and other utterances which the BJP has claimed are ‘lies’.
