Bengaluru-based LPRI demanded a thorough investigation and action against the Uttar Pradesh chief minister and an assurance that such inflammatory and communal rhetoric is not repeated.
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – A human rights advocacy group based in Karnataka’s capital city of Bengaluru has filed a complaint with the Election Commission (EC) against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for making inflammatory speeches targeting the Muslim community during an election rally in Maharashtra.
On Monday, Law and Policy Research Institute (LPRI) filed the complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI), and the chief election officer of Maharashtra for Yogi’s speech in Maharashtra’s Palghar on Saturday. The group maintains that Yogi’s remarks not only undermine the country’s secular fabric but also threaten communal harmony.
Addressing the Palghar rally, the Uttar Pradesh chief minister said: “Now, no one dares to offer namaz on the roads of UP. The mosques have removed their mikes. In the next five years, people will forget about screams (azaan) from mosques”.
In its complaint, the LPRI pointed out the violations of the model code of conduct, the Representation of the People Act 1951, and various sections of the Indian Penal Code.
In a statement, the group said: “We have officially lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Maharashtra regarding recent inflammatory and communal remarks made by Yogi Adityanath during a rally in Palghar, Maharashtra. His statements, targeting the Muslim community, are deeply offensive and violate several key provisions of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (RPA), and the Indian Penal Code (IPC”.
As per the complaint, the speech violated the provisions of the MCC such as appealing to communal feelings for votes, criticising opponents beyond policies and programmes, and engaging in activities that are corrupt practices and election offences. The RPA provisions – promoting enmity or hatred between classes on religious grounds, promoting enmity in connection with elections and the IPC sections – promoting enmity between different groups on religious grounds (Section 153A), deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings (Section 295A) and creating or promoting enmity, hatred, or ill-will between classes (Section 505(2) were also violated.
“The above-mentioned sections clearly delineate the unlawful nature of the statements made by Adityanath Yogi. His words have the potential to incite communal discord and disturb public peace, which is against the democratic and secular fabric of our nation,” reads the complaint.
It demanded a thorough investigation and action against Yogi Adityanath and an assurance that such inflammatory and communal rhetoric is not repeated.
LPRI has filed dozens of complaints with the ECI against hate speeches, violations of the model code of conduct and the Representation of the People Act during the election campaign.
