Congress moves SC against Modi, Shah for violating poll code
On Monday, Congress moved Supreme Court alleging that Election Commission isn't taking action against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah for violating Model Code of Conduct. The top court agreed to hear the petition, moved by Congress parliamentarian Sushmita Dev, tomorrow. Dev said Shah and PM Modi used defense forces in speeches to gain political mileage. Here are the details.
In her plea, Dev said it is common knowledge that Shah and PM Modi indulge in hate speeches and speak about armed forces to galvanize support. Dev reminded that the top polling body has restricted politicians from using defense forces during the campaign. Congress also alleged PM Modi violated MCC on April 23 as he held a "roadshow type" event after casting his vote.
"We filed 8 complaints to the EC on behalf of the party against PM Modi and Shah regarding their speeches on armed forces. EC can dismiss our complaints but not acting on them is against the law of the land," Dev told ANI.
Notably, senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi mentioned the plea before a bench headed by CJI Ranjan Gogoi. In the court, CJI Gogoi specifically asked who was Singhvi complaining against. The lawyer then took Shah and PM Modi's names, "Why are you not naming them," asked CJI Gogoi and told Singhvi to wait. He said he would hear his petition in the end.
Singhvi told the top court several complaints have been filed with the poll panel, but no action has been taken. He referred to Mahua Moitra case in which SC had directed EC to immediately take action against violations. West Bengal BJP leaders allegedly made sexually colored remarks against Trinamool's Moitra earlier this month. Subsequently, CJI Gogoi said bench would hear the matter on Tuesday.
Last week, Congress said Model Code of Conduct had become 'Modi Code of Conduct'. "We are saddened to say that as if in the second word in the Election Commission, the letter 'C' has been dropped and it has become the Election Omission as far as Modi-Shah duo is concerned," Singhvi had said. P Chidambaram also accused EC of taking BJP's side.
A number of speeches of PM Modi have raised eyebrows recently. Last week, he said India called out Pakistan's nuclear bomb bluff with Balakot airstrikes. Addressing a rally in Rajasthan, he said Pakistan kept talking about having a nuclear button. "What do we have then? Have we kept our nuclear bomb for Diwali," he asked and the crowd clapped hands.
Like PM Modi, Shah has also been talking about armed forces. "India is only the third country after Israel and United States to have retaliated to terrorism in this brave manner," Shah said in Bihar's Sitamarhi on Sunday. Not long ago, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath called defense forces "Modi Ki Sena", for which he was issued a notice by EC.
