Congress advises EC to make sure PM’s travel to Kanyakumari doesn’t break the model code; TMC also expresses worry
The complaint was presented to ECI officials by a group of Congress lawmakers led by national spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
Congress has filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India, one day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that he would be meditating at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari.
Congress has demanded that the trip be either postponed or that its broadcast be prohibited in accordance with the Model Code of Conduct for elections regarding the PM’s travel to Kanyakumari.
The complaint was presented to ECI officials by a group of Congress lawmakers led by national spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
After filing the complaint, Singhvi addressed the media and stated, “We informed the ECI that no one is permitted to campaign during the silence period, either directly or indirectly. We don’t mind if a leader or individual takes any action or observes a vow of silence. However, during the moment of quiet, no indirect campaigning is allowed. The Prime Minister has declared that he will observe a vow of silence starting on May 30th evening. You are aware that the period of silence will begin at 7 a.m. on May 30 and last until June 1st.
“These are ways that you are campaigning or are broadcasting yourself through channels and print media. We have kept two very simple points before the ECI. Either the PM starts this 24-48 hours later. After June 1 evening, he can do it. And if he insists that he will start it tomorrow then, it is necessary that a ban is imposed on its broadcasting on print and visual media. He is himself a candidate in the last phase. This kind of broadcast should not be allowed,” said Singhvi.
Modi is running in the Varanasi Lok Sabha elections, which are scheduled on June 1.
In the meantime, the TMC brought up the matter as well, stating, “MCC stands for Model Code of Conduct, not Modi’s Code of Conduct, in case the BJP forgot! Smt. Mamata Banerjee has made it quite clear that she will take immediate and serious action against any effort to broadcast PM Modi’s meditation on television, since it clearly violates the MCC.”
Addressing an election rally at Baruipur in Jadavpur constituency, Mamata Banerjee elaborated, “Does anybody meditate in front of the camera? He wants to show people that he is meditating. The place is good, Swami Vivekananda loved this place (Dhyan Mandapam). If he (Modi) is saying that he is God then, then why should he meditate?”
“He cannot campaign like this. He can meditate but that cannot be telecast on the television. This is a violation of MCC and we will complain to the ECI,” she added.
The Congress delegation also brought up the use of “doctored” films on social media and “indecent ads” that are purportedly posted by the official accounts of the BJP for India with the EC.
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