Both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress have given seven and 14 days, respectively, to respond to the Election Commission’s notice on speeches by star campaigners Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. officials said on Monday that they had asked for additional time.
The EC had on April 25 issued notices to Bharatiya Janata Party President JP Nadda and Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge citing Model Code of Conduct complaints against the Prime Minister and Congress MPs respectively. Presidents of both parties were asked to respond by 11 a.m. Monday.
According to EC sources, the BJP responded to the EC before the deadline and sought a week’s response time. Sources said that on Monday morning, Parliament first asked the EC to respond by 5pm and then asked for a 14-day grace period. Sources said the EC had not yet decided on the parties’ request for additional time and could do so on Tuesday.
The EC, contrary to its own previous practice, has decided to issue notices to party leaders rather than the concerned leaders, Mr. Modi and Mr. Rahul, for the alleged violation of the MCC.
In the case of the Prime Minister, the Congress, CPI and CPI(ML) had protested against his speech in Banswara, Rajasthan, on April 21, in which he called Muslims “infiltrators”. In Mr. Kharge’s case, the EC sent his BJP charge sheet against Mr. Gandhi and Mr. Kharge himself for violating his MCC.
The BJP claims that Rahul tried to create division between linguistic groups, while the party did not invite President Drupadi Murmu to the Ram temple consecration ceremony because Kharji is from a Scheduled Tribe. He argued against it.
“…The Commission takes the view that while the star campaigner remains responsible for his speech, the Commission will respond to party leaders and party leaders on a case-by-case basis,” the EC notification states.
© Indian Express Private Limited
Date first uploaded: April 30, 2024, 04:21 IST
