NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to compel its election campaign songs to comply with advertising norms stipulated in the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994 and ECI Guidelines. I requested that the content be changed.
The ECI particularly objected to the phrase “Jail, Vote for Me” and the visual of a mob holding up a photo of Arvind Kejriwal inside a jail, which condemns the judiciary and is in line with ECI guidelines. He said it was a violation of the provisions of Rule 6. (1)(g) of the Program and Advertising Terms.
“The phrase ‘Jail and vote for me’ showing an aggressive mob holding Arvind Kejriwal’s photo showing him inside the jail has cast a rebuke on the judiciary. Furthermore, this phrase has appeared several times in advertisements that violate the ECI regulations.” Guidelines and Regulation 6(1\(g)).
Meanwhile, AAP claimed that the EC imposed a ban on the party’s Lok Sabha campaign song for portraying the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the central investigating agency in a negative light.
Senior AAP leader Atishi told a press conference that the song does not violate the Model Code of Conduct as it does not mention the Bharatiya Janata Party and contains factual footage and incidents.
Atishi criticized the EC for not taking action against violations of poll rules by the Bharatiya Janata Party and suggested the EC’s actions signaled a threat to democracy. He asked the EC to deal with the violations of the BJP and not to disrupt the opposition parties’ election campaign.
“If the Bharatiya Janata Party runs an autocracy, then it is right. But if someone talks about it, then it is wrong. This shows that democracy is in danger. I would like to appeal to the EC to take action against the violations (poll rules) committed by the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party and not stop the opposition’s campaign,” she said.
AAP’s campaign song, which is over two minutes long, has been written and composed by AAPMLA’s Dilip Pandey and was released at the party headquarters on Thursday.
(With input from agency)
The ECI particularly objected to the phrase “Jail, Vote for Me” and the visual of a mob holding up a photo of Arvind Kejriwal inside a jail, which condemns the judiciary and is in line with ECI guidelines. He said it was a violation of the provisions of Rule 6. (1)(g) of the Program and Advertising Terms.
“The phrase ‘Jail and vote for me’ showing an aggressive mob holding Arvind Kejriwal’s photo showing him inside the jail has cast a rebuke on the judiciary. Furthermore, this phrase has appeared several times in advertisements that violate the ECI regulations.” Guidelines and Regulation 6(1\(g)).
Meanwhile, AAP claimed that the EC imposed a ban on the party’s Lok Sabha campaign song for portraying the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the central investigating agency in a negative light.
Senior AAP leader Atishi told a press conference that the song does not violate the Model Code of Conduct as it does not mention the Bharatiya Janata Party and contains factual footage and incidents.
Atishi criticized the EC for not taking action against violations of poll rules by the Bharatiya Janata Party and suggested the EC’s actions signaled a threat to democracy. He asked the EC to deal with the violations of the BJP and not to disrupt the opposition parties’ election campaign.
“If the Bharatiya Janata Party runs an autocracy, then it is right. But if someone talks about it, then it is wrong. This shows that democracy is in danger. I would like to appeal to the EC to take action against the violations (poll rules) committed by the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party and not stop the opposition’s campaign,” she said.
Expanding
(With input from agency)
