Telangana Congress complains against PM Modi ‘maligning’ Congress image

New Delhi: The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee wrote to the EC, alleging a violation of the election code by prime minister Narendra Modi.

PM Modi, during an interview with the news agency ANI telecasted on several national channels on April 15, 2024, tried to malign the image of the Congress party, the complaint said. It said PM Modi alleged Congress was responsible for decades of delay in solving the Ram Mandir issue because of vote bank politics.

He also mentioned that Congress tried to create obstructions in the delivery of Judgement on Rama Janma Bhoomi.

The complaint said that he also tried to give the impression that Congress rejected the invitation extended to them to attend the Pranaprathista program. “We are attaching herewith the link of the interview and the English transcript of it for your kind perusal,” said the chairman of the election commission coordination committee G Niranjan.

What did PM Modi say?

Here’s an excerpt from the alleged comment by PM Modi during the interview:

“Firstly, who politicised it? We have not been born at that time. Even our party was not born. This issue should have been resolved in the courts long back, back when the division of India took place.

“They (Congress) have not resolved it because this is a weapon in their hands. This weapon was useful for their vote bank politics that’s why that issue was kept pending.

“When this issue was in the court, they tried to see that the judgement was not delivered. It is the government’s responsibility to follow the legal procedure but they tried to create obstructions as this was a political weapon for them. Now that the Ram Mandir is built there is no issue on their hands for their vote bank politics. Now they are unable to scare anyone.

“You see the happenings from Somanath Mandir. These are asthas and moola prathis of India. They are thinking negatively about it. What was the problem of Somnath Mandir? There was Sardar Patel and Rajendra Babu and they had to go: then there was no Janasangh, no BJF and no RSS. The same attitude has been continuing now. We extended the invitation for Prana Pratishta and that was rejected. In fact, they should have felt respected. It seems that their rejection of the invitation is because of their propensity for vote bank politics. They feel that it is their right to degrade others. They are ‘namdars’ and we are ‘kamdars’.

Timing of interview targeted Congress

In its complaint to the EC, the Congress memo said, “We request the EC to observe the timing of the interview, just four days before the first phase of elections intended to create apprehension among the people and to malign the Congress party and its image.”

Congress submitted the telecast of Modi’s interview and stated that it was nothing but a paid interview or paid news to disseminate propaganda against the Congress party and opposition parties which is against democratic principles.

“It is only four days before the first phase of voting. Why is such an interview being telecast? Opposition is being shown in the wrong light which is not a fair level playing field for elections. The allegations in the interview are not suitable to the stature of prime minister post and it is not in a good light,” said Niranjan.

MCC

The Election Commission advised all the political parties and candidates to strictly follow the MCC without violating it. The political parties and their leaders are restricted from propagating against the opponents which may result in polarisation of the political atmosphere. They should not use religion or religious places in their propaganda and should not create hatred among the people.

As per the Model Code of Conduct:

1. No party or candidate shall include in any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic.

2. Parties and candidates shall refrain from criticism of all aspects of private life not connected with the public activities of the leaders or workers of other parties.

3. Criticism of other parties or their workers based on unverified allegations is wrong. There shall be no appeal to caste or communal feelings for securing votes. Mosques, churches, temples or places of worship shall not be used as a forum for election propaganda.