India
‘Divisive, malicious’: Congress asks EC to ban PM Modi and Amit Shah over ‘false’ campaign speeches – Times of India
In the letter to the EC, the Congress accused BJP, the two BJP leaders, of making “false, divisive, malicious and defamatory” statements during their recent election rallies. The party asked the poll body to ban Prime Minister Modi and Shah from participating in election-related activities for the duration of the election period and requested a comprehensive investigation and legal action against those involved in “the vitriolic and blatantly violent election campaign of the BJP” in Maharashtra. and Jharkhand.
Congress Communications Secretary Jairam Ramesh has submitted a memorandum to the EC regarding PM Modi’s statements at an election rally in Maharashtra.
“On November 8, Prime Minister Modi made several “false, malicious and defamatory” claims against the Congress and its allies at rallies in Nasik and Dhule in Maharashtra,” Jairam Ramesh’s letter said.
Prime Minister Modi’s statements included allegations against prominent Congress leaders and former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, the complaint said.
“Thereafter, Narendra Modi leveled allegations against the current leadership of the INC and alleged that the INC was against the interests of the SC, ST and OBC communities. In fact, Mr. Modi went to the extent of claiming that INC was actively promoting the interests of the SC, ST and OBC communities. There is an infighting between the SC, ST and OBCs,” said Ramesh, who gave a transcript of the speech.
In Prime Minister Modi’s memorandum dated November 13, the Congress leader claimed that “the tone and tenor of the entire speech is further evidence of the speaker’s intention to create and spread religious and caste-based enmity.”
Referring to Prime Minister Modi’s speech on November 12 in Chandrapur, Maharashtra, the complaint said the Prime Minister “repeated his false and baseless allegations against the INC and its alliance partners.”
“However, apart from the allegations, Mr. Modi has once again made claims and statements that are in direct violation of the election laws and amount to commission of criminal offences,” Jairam Ramesh noted.
The memorandum to the European Commission against the Prime Minister highlighted that the caste credentials of the BJP star campaigner for political advantage furthered their “hostile and incitement campaign designed to promote enmity between communities; to tarnish and defame the reputation of Congress and its senior leadership; and deceive the general. public, prompting them to oppose the Congress as it is against members of the SC, ST and OBC communities.
Regarding Shah, the complaint highlighted statements made by the Union Home Minister that allegedly violated the Model Code of Conduct and election laws.
At a rally on November 12 in Dhanbad, Jharkhand, Shah made “false, divisive, malicious and defamatory statements about the Indian National Congress (INC) and its allies,” the letter said.
The complaint noted Shah’s allegations that the Congress and allies were targeting SC, ST and OBC communities while promoting terrorism and alleged that the Congress was planning to redistribute reservations to a specific religious minority.
Later, Jairam Ramesh posted on We hope that the ECI addresses these complaints with the urgency they require.”
The polls in Maharashtra are scheduled for November 20, while Jharkhand will vote in two phases on November 13 and 20. The results will be known on November 23.
