Arvind Kejriwal Gets Election Commission Notice For 'Defamatory' Posts On PM Modi

The ECI issued a show-cause notice to AAP over alleged disparaging remarks against PM Narendra Modi on its social media handle after the BJP demanded action for posts made by the party.

File Photo of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

Source : PTI

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday issued a show-cause notice to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over alleged disparaging remarks made against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on its social media handle. The EC has directed the national convener of the AAP, Arvind Kejriwal, who is also the Chief Minister of Delhi, to respond to the charge of violating the model code by November 16.

"It has been alleged in the complaint that the aforesaid tweets have portrayed the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Star Campaigner of Bharatiya Janata Party in a disparaging, insulting and defamatory manner with scurrilous and malicious intent to adversely affect the candidature of the Party's representatives standing for election by influencing the sensibilities of voters through false propaganda and to thereby prejudice the prospects of that candidate's election and influence the outcome of the above State elections to wrongfully gain votes in the ensuing elections," the ECI stated.

Elections 2023: BJP's Complaint Against AAP Over Posts Targeting PM Modi

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had raised the matter with the poll body, demanding action against the AAP for posting an "unacceptable and unethical" video clip and remarks targeting Prime Minister Modi.

On Wednesday last, the AAP shared a video story on 'X', featuring industrialist Gautam Adani and Prime Minister Modi. The following day, the party posted a picture of Adani and Modi, alleging that the prime minister works for the industrialist and not the people.

A BJP delegation, including Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, party national media in-charge Anil Baluni, and party leader Om Pathak, approached the poll panel on the issue. Minister Puri, addressing reporters after the meeting, condemned the AAP's social media posts, describing them as "unacceptable, reprehensible, mischievous, and unethical."

In its notice to the AAP, the ECI stated, "The national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party is hereby called upon to explain the statements/allegations/averments, made in the alleged social media posts under reference, against a star campaigner of another national party and against the political party and by insinuation and innuendo against the candidates for the state elections and to show cause why appropriate action for violation of model code of conduct read with relevant election and penal laws should not be taken against you."

The notice further indicated that if no response is received within the stipulated time, it will be presumed that the AAP has nothing to say in the matter, and the Election Commission will take appropriate action or decision without further reference.

The ongoing assembly polls in five states—Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Mizoram—add significance to the Election Commission's intervention in maintaining the model code of conduct.

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