As Polls Near, BJP Demands ECI Action Over Priyanka’s Remarks On Modi, Cong Complains Against Shah
Both the BJP and the Congress approached the ECI complaining about speeches of each other's prominent leaders including Home Minister Amit Shah and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday accused Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra of exploiting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's personal religious practices to disseminate false information during her election campaign in Rajasthan. A delegation from the BJP, including Union ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and Arjun Ram Meghwal, alongside party leaders Anil Baluni and Om Pathak, has submitted a formal complaint to the Election Commission, seeking appropriate legal action against the Congress general secretary, news agency PRI reported.
On the other hand, the Congress party also approached the Election Commission of India (ECI) today complaining against statements of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma as well as the Centre's notification regarding civil servants' role as 'Rath Prabharis'
The BJP's complaint centers on an incident that unfolded during a public gathering in Dausa on October 20. Priyanka Gandhi mentioned that she had seen on television that a donation made by Prime Minister Modi at a temple contained only Rs 21 when the envelope was opened. The BJP's complaint explicitly noted that Priyanka Gandhi acknowledged she had seen the news but could not verify the veracity of the claim, PTI reported. More On It: ‘Rs 12 Found In Temple Donation’: Priyanka Gandhi’s ‘Envelope’ Jibe At PM Modi In Rajasthan — WATCH
She subsequently utilised this incident as a springboard for a political assault on the BJP, insinuating that the party displays envelopes to the public during elections, but they turn out to be empty afterward. The BJP enclosed a video of her statements as part of its complaint, as per PTI's report.
Congress Lodges Complaints Against Home Minister Amit Shah, Assam CM Himanta Sarma
Notably, regarding Congress complaints to EC, Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh disclosed, "From the side of Congress party, Salman Khurshid, Manikrao Thakre, Revanth Reddy, Uttam Kumar Reddy, and I have met Election Commissioners. We have given 8 memorandums and complained about 8 things."
Among the complaints was one against the Union Home Minister for a statement made in Chhattisgarh. Another memorandum pertained to a statement by the Assam Chief Minister in Kawardha, Chhattisgarh. Further grievances included objections against the Central government's notification regarding civil servants' role as 'Rath Prabharis' and a complaint against Madhya Pradesh minister Govind Singh Rajput who is also facing an FIR, the Congress leader informed.
Apart from this, four complaints are regarding Telangana, he stated.
One of their complaints pertained to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who, in a speech in Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon on October 16, allegedly made statements suggesting that the Chhattisgarh government, for "appeasement and vote bank politics", had been involved in the killing of Bhuneshwar Sahoo. Shah also stated that the BJP had pledged to bring Sahoo's killers to justice and was fielding his father, Ishwar Sahoo, as a candidate in the elections.
The Congress claimed that these statements and allegations made by Shah violate the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Representation of the People Act, 1951, due to their inflammatory nature, PTI reported.
The grand old party also lodged a complaint against Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, citing a speech he delivered in Chhattisgarh's Kawardha on October 18, during which Sarma allegedly made statements deemed dangerous and incendiary. Sarma had said, "If one Akbar comes to some place, he calls 100 Akbars. So, send him off as soon as possible, otherwise the land of Mata Kaushalya will get defiled." The Congress complaint highlighted Sarma's allegations against Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, where Sarma suggested that the tribals in Chhattisgarh were encouraged to convert their religion and questioned the concept of secularism, according to PTI.
Rajput is accused of promising BJP members that he would reward Rs 25 lakh to booth in-charges who secure the most votes for the BJP.
Priyanka Gandhi Using Religious Feelings To Stoke Disharmony: Arjun Ram Meghwal
Regarding BJP's complaint, Union ministers Arjun Ram Meghwal and Hardeep Singh Puri addressed reporters on the matter, asserting that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's actions could be construed as a breach of existing laws.
"Is Priyanka Gandhi above the law? Does she believe in any law? She is using religious feelings to stoke disharmony," Meghwal remarked.
He underscored that the claim regarding Modi's donation was unfounded and had been contradicted by media reports. The BJP's complaint to the Election Commission emphasised that her statements had violated the principles of free and fair elections by invoking the Prime Minister's personal religious beliefs. The complaint posited that Vadra herself had expressed uncertainty about the claim's veracity, he informed.
According to the BJP, these remarks contravened both the Indian Penal Code and the Representation of People Act. The Representation of People Act prohibits the publication of false statements about a candidate's character or conduct, with the intent to affect the election's outcome. The Indian Penal Code also deems making false statements in connection with an election an offence when the aim is to influence the poll's result.
Consequently, the BJP urged the Election Commission to initiate appropriate legal proceedings under the provisions of the RPA 1951 and the Indian Penal Code, in conjunction with immediate action for violating the model code, PTI reported. This is aimed at ensuring that elections are not swayed by false narratives, libellous or defamatory statements, or statements that hurt religious sentiments.
Assembly polls are slated to take place in Rajasthan on November 25.
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