ECI asks BJP, Congress to desist from campaigning along religious lines, politicise armed forces

New Delhi: Election Commission of India rejected the defence given by Bharatiya Janata Party against ‘divisive’ statement of PM Modi in Rajasthan. At the same time, it has asked Congress party to not politicise defence forces.

In the same vein, it has asked both national parties to desist from campaigning along caste, community, language, and religious lines, asserting that India’ socio-cultural milieu cannot be made a casualty to elections.

Action after a month

Indian National Congress party complained to the ECI about the speech made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Rajasthan’s Banswara. The speech was ‘divisive’ and there were more than 3,000 e-mail complaints to ECI by citizens across India.

ECI served a notice to the BJP president J P Nadda for the speech given by PM Modi. In the press release issued on complaints, ECI stated that they cannot send notice to independent star campaigner’s as it is for the political party to maintain decorum.

So, after the reply from BJP, ECI has asked BJP to stop campaign speeches that divide society.

Asks Congress not to politicise defence forces

On the complaints of BJP against the Congress party, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has been asked to not to politicise defence forces and make potentially divisive statements regarding socio-economic composition of the armed forces.

Congress has also been asked to ensure that their star campaigners and candidates do not make statements which give false impression that the Constitution may be abolished or sold.

Issue letters to star campaigners

EC asked the presidents of the two national parties to issue formal notes to their star campaigners to correct their discourse, exercise care and maintain decorum.

Departure from past practices

ECI in its press release dated May 14, 2024 said that notices to individual leaders who committed violations of Model Code Conduct in the past were sent notices.

But the commission has now adopted a new course

with its advisory dated 01st March 2024 to Party Presidents/Chairpersons/General Secretaries of all recognised political parties urging them to ask their leaders/candidates/star campaigners not to make speeches/ utterances which are in direct or indirect violation of MCC.

The Commission has taken a view that while the individual star campaigner/leader/candidate would continue to remain responsible for speeches made, the Commission will address Party President/Head of the political party, on case-to-case basis.

The commission believes that it is political parties prime responsibility to rein in their star campaigners.

(Inputs from PTI)