To maintain balance, Election Commission sent notice to BJP along with Congress
#News Bureau November16,2024
The Election Commission on Saturday sought clarifications from the party presidents of the two main rival parties at the national level – the BJP and the Congress – and asked them to explain the remarks made by their star campaigners Amit Shah and Rahul Gandhi. The comments allegedly violate the poll code of conduct.
BJP’s JP Nadda and Congress’ Mallikarjun Kharge have to submit their replies by 1 pm on Monday, two days before polling in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. Polling in Maharashtra and Jharkhand (second phase) is on November 20. The BJP had filed a complaint against Rahul Gandhi, claiming that the Congress leader in a speech in Mumbai on November 6 had “accused other states of usurping and snatching an alleged opportunity from the state of Maharashtra.”
The BJP alleged that “Rahul Gandhi is allegedly inciting the youth of Maharashtra with his statements which is extremely dangerous for the unity and integrity of the country. As expected, Rahul Gandhi’s speech was full of lies. “With an intent to create discontent, enmity and ill-will between the states of India, Rahul Gandhi has tried to create division among the people of Maharashtra, Gujarat and other states by his misleading statement,” the BJP said in its complaint. Rahul’s November 11 speech was made an issue. However, this is not Rahul’s allegation alone. Investigative reports by various opposition parties and media have said that several projects from several states, including Maharashtra, were transferred to Gujarat.
Congress filed a complaint with the Election Commission against the communal speeches of BJP leaders. Congress alleged that Home Minister Amit Shah made “several false, divisive, malicious and defamatory statements about the Congress and its allies” during an election rally in Dhanbad on November 12.
In its complaint dated November 13, the Congress said, “During his speech, Amit Shah alleged that the Congress and its allies were against the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and were promoting terrorism in the country. In what has become a common narrative in the BJP’s campaign in Jharkhand, Amit Shah also accused the Congress of planning to snatch away reservations from members of the ST, SC, and OBC communities and give them to members of a particular religious minority community.”
“The statements made by Amit Shah are with the sole intention to incite voters on the basis of religion and caste, consolidate votes and induce them to vote for the BJP by creating communal insecurity,” the Congress alleged.
The Model Code of Conduct is in force to ensure free and fair elections. It states that no party or candidate shall engage in any activity that may aggravate differences between communities or create mutual hatred or create tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic. The code of conduct also states that criticism of other political parties should be limited to their policies and programs, past record and work.
Election Commission ignored complaints
Amidst the elections going to be held on 9 seats in Maharashtra, Jharkhand and UP, the most poisonous speech was of UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. In which he said that if you divide, you will be cut. Immediately after this, BJP distanced itself from this statement and gave the slogan of Ek Hain To Safe Hain. UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya, BJP leader Pankaja Munde and BJP’s allies called Yogi’s slogan wrong and said that only Modi ji’s slogan is right. The rest of the slogans are not of BJP. Complaints regarding Yogi’s communal speeches reached the Election Commission but the Election Commission did not issue any notice to Yogi.
