Bengaluru-based civil rights group, Law and Policy Research Institute, finds statements of the prime minister and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in violation of the moral code of conduct
Waquar Hasan | Clarion India
NEW DELHI – The remarks of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during election rallies are designed to incite communal discord and hatred, said different complaints filed with the Election Commission on Wednesday.
The complaints filed by a Bengaluru-based civil rights group, Law and Policy Research Institute (LPRI), with the New Delhi office of the Election Commission of India and the Chief Election Officer of Delhi is about speeches delivered by the prime minister in the national capital on 18 May and by the UP chief minister in Phulpur a day later.
The problematic parts of the speech according to the complaint are: “Congress manifesto seems to be made under pressure from Muslim League, “They want to give government contracts on the basis of religion”, “They want athletes to be selected for teams on the basis of religion”, “They want to divide the national budget on the basis of religion.”, “They want to conduct an X-ray of your wealth and distribute half of it to their vote bank”, “Spreads conspiracy of Vote Jihad; claims Muslims will do vote jihad and in exchange the Waqf Board receives properties.”, “We have to clean up such people one by one; Muslim reservations.”
The complaint said that these remarks “are deeply concerning and appear to violate multiple laws and codes of conduct”.
“The above statements made by Shri Narendra Modi are incendiary and are designed to incite communal discord and hatred, thereby creating an atmosphere of division and tension among different communities. This behaviour is not only unbecoming of a candidate in an electoral process but also a direct attack on the secular fabric of our nation,” reads the complaint.
The complaint noted the sections of the Model Code of Conduct, Representation of the People Act and Indian Penal Code. Section 1 – “No party or candidate shall indulge in any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic” and section 1(3)- “there shall be no appeal to caste or communal feelings for securing votes” from the MCC were violated.
Section 123 (3) (Attempt to promote enmity on grounds of religion), and Section 123(3A) (Promotion of hatred between different classes) from PRA were violated.
Sections 153 A (Promoting enmity between groups) and 505 (2) (Statements creating enmity between classes) were allegedly violated.
The complaint demanded appropriate legal and punitive action against Modi and ensure that such communal and divisive rhetoric is curbed.
On Wednesday, LPRI also filed a complaint against Yogi Adityanath for his at an election rally in Phulpur on 19 May describing them as “highly inflammatory and communal.”
“This election is between Ram Bhakt and Ram Drohi. The other side are Ram Drohis, anti-nationals and traitors of the nation; Aurangzeb; Don’t let Aurangzeb Jaziya be implemented again,” said Yogi.
