‘Grow A Spine or Resign’: Citizens, INDIA alliance urge ECI to act on ‘poll violations’ by PM Modi

New Delhi/Hyderabad: Citizens and civil society groups across metropolitans have started a campaign called ‘Grow A Spine or Resign’, demanding the Election Commission to act on the alleged poll violations by prime minister Narendra Modi during his recent public interactions, as part of the ensuing Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

On May 11, groups in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Ranchi will send letters and postcards to the ECI urging it to act on the many complaints it has received from political parties and citizens. The groups are also planning to meet with the chief electoral officer of the state to submit the letter in person.

INDIA alliance meets ECI

On Friday, a joint multi-party delegation of the INDIA alliance met the commission to initiate action against the alleged repeated violations by PM Modi.

In a detailed letter submitted to the commission, the alliance stated that this violation constitutes a direct challenge to the commission and if left unchecked will leave a deep impact on the democratic fabric of India.

“The commission has been given details of PM Modi’s hate speeches, misrepresentation of opposition’s campaign, create divisions within groups, openly seeking votes in the name of religion and other reckless claims,” the delegation said. These offences are punishable under the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and the Representation of People Act, 1951.

The team also provided a list of complaints given to ECI on which no action has been taken so far:

- On April 6, PM Modi said that the Congress election manifesto is reflective of the ideology of the Muslim League.

- On April 21, PM Modi in Banswara, Rajasthan said that the INC intends to steal mangalsutras from women and re-allocating the same to individuals professing a certain religion; referring to such members as intruders.

- On April 23, PM Modi in Tonk, Rajasthan, invoked the Armed Forces to malign the reputation of the INC and made religious references to ridicule the INC and its election manifesto.

- On April 29, PM Modi, during a televised interview, continued his false rhetoric of comparing the Congress election manifesto to that of the Muslim League.

- On April 30, PM Modi, in a letter to members of the BJP, circulated and published widely, reiterated that the INC would give away the fortunes of the general public to a particular religious community. This letter itself satisfied the ingredients of Section 153A IPC, the alliance said in the letter.

- On May 2, PM Modi delivered a speech in Surendranagar, Gujarat, targeting the INC and its election manifesto in an attempt to create a religious divide.

- On May 2, PM Modi committed a second violation on the same day with his speech in Junagadh, Gujarat. He stated that the INC intends to give away parts of the Indian territory to Sri Lanka. He reiterated the contents of his earlier speech with his comparison of the INC’s election manifesto to the Muslim League.

- On May 7, PM Modi levelled baseless and egregious allegations against the INC. His speech included false and provocative statements to the effect that the electorate must not vote for the INC as the INC intends to put a ‘Babri Lock’ on the Ram Mandir.

- On May 8, PM Modi made communally charged statements where he alleged misappropriation of funds by the chief minister of Telangana for the personal gain of the INC. He made other statements stating that the Opposition parties such as AIMIM and BRS were conspiring against the benefit of the people of Telangana for the benefit of a particular religious community to the exclusion of others.

- On May 8, PM Modi again made false, malicious and racist statements invoking the office of the president to target Congress in his address to the electorate at Karimnagar, Telangana.

The alliance in the letter to ECI stated that it is evident that even after receiving the show-cause notice by ECI to the national president of BJP JP Nadda there is no change.