Equivalence Is Bizarre, Unwarranted, Unjustified: Congress On EC Letter In “Identical Language” As Same As To BJP

The Election Commission of India (ECI) 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 the 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”.

Reacting to the development, Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh said the virtually identical language the ECI used in letter doesn’t fit well with the level playing field and added that the equivalence by the Commission is “by any standard, is bizarre and completely unwarranted and unjustified”.

He also alleged that BJP candidates, meanwhile, “brazenly continue to use religious symbols in their election campaign.”

Here’s is what Jairam Ramesh wrote:

“The Election Commission has issued notices to the BJP President for campaign remarks made by the PM, on which the Congress had filed a complaint. At the same time, in virtually identical language, it has issued a notice to the Congress President on remarks made by Shri Rahul Gandhi, on which the BJP had complained.

Is this what the EC means by a ‘level playing field’? It is clear that public pressure, motivated by the PM’s outrageous remarks, have forced the EC’s hand. But did it have to compensate by sending a notice on Rahul Gandhi’s remarks as well?

By equating the two, the EC has drawn attention to its own compulsions. By any standard, the equivalence is bizarre and completely unwarranted and unjustified.

Meanwhile, BJP candidates brazenly continue to use religious symbols in their election campaign.”