E-Paper
BJP files new batch of complaints to Election Commission
The Congress has sought time until May 14 from the Election Commission (EC) to file a reply in a complaint against party president Rahul Gandhi.
The Congress has sought time until May 14 from the Election Commission (EC) to file a reply in a complaint against party president Rahul Gandhi.
The complaint, filed by the Bharatiya Janata Party, pertains to a poll speech made in Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh, on April 23 in which Gandhi had purportedly said that the BJP has made a new rule under which tribals can be shot at, referring to a new draft law of the Indian Forest Act.
This is the second time that Gandhi has asked for an extension over this complaint.
Additionally, the BJP on Tuesday complained to the poll watchdog that Gandhi had indulged in “repeated and persistent violations” of the model code of conduct (MCC) by making “intentional, repetitive, baseless, malicious and defamatory allegations” against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah.
The party submitted four different memorandums to the EC seeking strict steps against Gandhi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
In a memorandum, the ruling party mentioned six different incidents where the Congress chief had called the PM a thief and, without any evidence, called many Union ministers thieves.
The party said that Gandhi,during his rally in Ahmedabad on March 12, had said violated the MCC by saying that the PM gave Rs 30,000 crore meant for the Indian Air Force to industrialist Anil Ambani.
In a separate complaint, the BJP mentioned a video that went viral on social media where the West Bengal CM could be seen scolding a crowd for shouting some slogans when her convoy was passing. “Banerjee was trying to intimidate the voters by telling them that they had to stay in the state even after the polls,” the memorandum said
On Monday, the Congress complained against a film, ‘Bhagwa atankwad bhramjaal’, which was supposed to be screened on Monday in Bhopal. The Congress said that the film was being released to vitiate the atmosphere of communal harmony in Bhopal. It also complained against Modi’s remarks calling former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, “Corrupt (person) No. 1”.
The MCC came into force from March 10 when the EC announced the schedule of the Lok Sabha polls.
The results of the seven-phase elections will be announced on May 23.
