EC issues notice to Modi , Rahul over MCC violations

The Capital News 

New Delhi: April 25: The Election Commission (EC) has responded to allegations of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violations by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge. This move follows criticism over the EC’s initial inaction regarding Modi’s speech in Banswara, Rajasthan, on April 21.

The EC’s letters to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress, dated April 25, were addressed to party presidents J.P. Nadda and Mallikarjun Kharge, respectively. The letters, while not naming the alleged MCC violators, refer to them as “some of [the party’s] star campaigners.” The complaints that led to these notices – Congress against Modi and BJP against Gandhi – are attached to the respective letters.

Invoking Section 77 of the Representation of the People Act concerning star campaigners, the EC requested reports from the party presidents by 11 am on April 29. The Commission stressed the heightened responsibility of political parties, especially regarding the conduct of their candidates and star campaigners, emphasizing the serious consequences of campaign speeches made by high-ranking individuals.

The Congress had lodged a complaint against Modi’s remarks during the Rajasthan rally on April 21, characterized by global media as an unprecedented hate speech. Modi’s comments insinuated that Congress would distribute wealth among Muslims if voted to power, referring to them as “infiltrators” and “those with more children.”

On the other hand, the BJP’s complaint against Kharge and Gandhi includes speeches on topics such as the Ram temple and alleged fund withholding by the Union government from Karnataka, which the BJP has labeled as ‘lies.’