While the notices didn't name the senior leaders against whom complaints had been made, they attached copies of the rival's complaints.The Election Commission has finally taken some action following numerous complaints over the hate speech and divisive comments made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Rajasthan and UP. The ECI on Thursday issued a notice to BJP president JP Nadda seeking the party’s response on complaints of violation of model code of conduct by PM Modi during poll campaign in Rajasthan. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge also received a notice based on complaints by BJP against Rahul Gandhi as well as him over similar violations during election campaigns in Kerala.
While the notices didn’t name the senior leaders against whom complaints had been made, they attached copies of the rival’s complaints. The poll body has sought a response from both the parties by 11 am on Monday, April 29.
In a two-page statement issued this morning, the EC said “‘star campaigners’ (Prime Minister Modi and Rahul Gandhi have been listed as such) are expected to contribute to a higher quality of discourse… which sometimes gets distorted in the heat of the contests at the local level”.
The ECI said that it is of the “considered view parties will have to take primary and increasing responsibility for the conduct of their candidates in general, and star campaigners in particular”.
“Campaign speeches by those holding high positions are of more serious consequence.”
The EC also said that “while individual star campaigners will continue to remain responsible for speeches made, the commission will address party presidents/head of party on a case-to-case basis”.
The Congress had complained about the Prime Minister’s speech in Rajasthan’s Banswara, where he made references to Muslims and accused the Congress of intending to “redistribute wealth to infiltrators”. The party also raised concerns about PM Modi referring to their manifesto as a “Muslim League imprint” and alleging that it aims to divide the country if elected.
“It completely bears the imprint of the Muslim League, and whatever is remaining is completely dominated by the Leftists,” the PM had said, when talking about the Congress manifesto.
The BJP had also filed a complaint claiming that Gandhi had made “derisive and obnoxious utterances” against PM Modi during a speech in Kottayam, Kerala. “… how can you tell the people of Tamil Nadu not to speak Tamil (and) the people of Kerala not to speak Malayalam… BJP does this with language, place, caste, and religion… whenever they get an opportunity, they divide the country…” Gandhi said according to the complaint.
The BJP slammed Gandhi as a “habitual offender” and also accused Kharge of “grossly misleading voters by declaring the BJP is going to change the Constitution if they win…”
While announcing the dates of the seven-phase election, the EC had warned politicians not to cross the “red line” during campaigning.