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EC probes allegations of MCC violation by Modi, Rahul; seeks response by April 29
KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)
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Summary
The ECI said the 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 have more serious consequences, it added.
The Election Commission took cognizance of alleged model code of conduct (MCC) violations by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections. Both Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress had raised allegations of causing hatred and divide based on religion, caste, community, or language.
The EC has invoked section 77 of Representation of the People Act (RPA) and held party presidents responsible, as the first step, to reign in star campaigners. The MCC allegations against Modi and Gandhi were exchanged with BJP President JP Nadda and Congress President Mallikarjuna Kharge as a first step.
The ECI has sought a response by 11 AM on April 29.
This is the first time that there have been MCC violation allegations against a prime minister. The EC asked the BJP to respond to complaints filed by opposition parties wherein they have accused Modi of delivering a divisive and defamatory speech in Rajasthan’s Banswara. At the same time, the poll panel also asked Congress to respond to complaints filed by the BJP against Kharge and Gandhi regarding their respective remarks.
The ECI said the 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 have more serious consequences, it added.
In its letter addressed to Nadda, the EC asked him to respond by Monday to complaints filed by the Congress, CPI and CPI (ML) regarding the remarks made by Modi on April 21 in Banswara. It also asked Nadda to bring to the notice of the party’s star campaigners to “set high standards of political discourse and observe provisions of model code of conduct in letter and spirit”.
In its complaint to the EC, the Congress said that Modi in his speech had alleged that Congress wanted to redistribute the wealth of the people to Muslims and that the opposition party won’t even spare the ‘mangalsutra’ of women.
The BJP, on the other hand, had written to EC that Gandhi levelled malafide and utterly sinister allegations against Modi during a speech in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. It also accused Kharge of violating the model code by claiming that he was not invited to the Ram temple consecration ceremony due to discrimination against SCs and STs.
The Lok Sabha elections are being held in seven phases. The voting for the first phase was held on April 19 and the second phase will vote on April 26.
With inputs from PTI
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