LS Polls voting 2019: 'Namo Foods' packet distributed at Noida polling booth, police say BJP not involved

Several policemen and security personnel on election duty in Noida were served meals in packets labelled ‘Namo Foods’ at a polling booth today. (April 11).

Officials clarified that those were produced from a food joint named Namo Food Shop. (Image: Twitter/ @manishbpl1)

Several policemen were served meals in packets labelled ‘Namo Foods'

The incident faced a backlash from many on social media

Police appealed to people not to pay heed to rumours being spread via social media

Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Several policemen and security personnel on election duty in Noida were served meals in packets labelled ‘Namo Foods’ at a polling booth today. (April 11). The incident faced a backlash from many on social media as election rules states that any material related to political parties and their candidates are prohibited within 200 metres of polling booth on the Election Day. Soon as the reports of Namo labelled food packets being distributed at a polling booth came to light, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Election Office (CEO) L Venkateshwarlu took cognisance of the matter. However, later the officials clarified that those were produced from a food joint named ‘Namo Food Shop’ and not from any political party. “Misinformation is being spread that some policemen have been distributed food from a political party. This is absolutely wrong. At local level, some food packets were procured from Namo Food Shop and not from any political party,” Senior Superintendent of Police, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Vaibhav Krishna told news agency PTI. “Some people are spreading wrong and politically motivated rumour. There is no official order to procure food from any particular food outlet,” Krishna said and also appealed to people not to pay heed to rumours being spread via social media. While several social media users including All India Mahila Congress account criticised the distribution of food packets labelled ‘Namo Food’ and wondered if this was a violation of the model code of conduct implemented by the Election Commission of India.

After Namo Chai NAMO Cap NAMO Merchandise Namo TV It is time for Namo food packete That too in polling team's car pic.twitter.com/f6peG72xER

— Atul (@secular_arrow) April 11, 2019

Ok! So, NaMo food packets at play in Noida now! pic.twitter.com/HnI7oUKblT

— Prashant Kumar (@scribe_prashant) April 11, 2019

So I’m reporting from outside sector 15A Noida/ Gautam Buddha Nagar, food platters sent inside poll booth with ‘NaMo Food’ cover on it. Many voters standing in the queue raised an eyebrow at it if it’s allowed while voting is on, if it’s a poll code violation. @dr_maheshsharma ? pic.twitter.com/AoWp4hpWEh

— Samia Kapoor (@iSamiakapoor) April 11, 2019

Video clearly shows police personnel in the vehicle carrying #NaMo food packets. #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/A01ml4w38b

— Akif عاکف (@khaans) April 11, 2019

NaMo food packets in Noida and it is distributed by Noida Police, why? @Uppolice any answers? pic.twitter.com/ubwusC4qf1

— Shavez A.Siddiqui.???????? Mirchi Lagegi ???? (@iam_shavez) April 11, 2019

Noida today food being distributed in Namo packaging. Where is EC as this is an open violation of the Model code of conduct on the day of elections. pic.twitter.com/9vUa3rGdpv

— Syedda Shahid (@syedda2) April 11, 2019

OMG!

VIDEO of food packets meant for officials deployed at a polling booth in Noida. 'NAMO' written over the boxes. I spoke with the DM. He said, "not a big issue. Will officials have food or not? Possibly shop's name is written. No other intention should be read into it" pic.twitter.com/Y4G3tDl3Zj — SaahilMurli Menghani (@saahilmenghani) April 11, 2019

Meanwhile, speaking to ANI, BR Tiwari, Additional Chief Election Officer, said that the matter had been highlighted in a different light by the media. “We came to know about this from media reports. There is a very old shop, more than 10 years old, which has this brand name. It has been highlighted in a different manner in media,” he said. Gautam Buddha Nagar is the constituency of Union Minister Mahesh Sharma’s from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Sharma here is contesting against Arvind Kumar Singh of the Congress and Satveer Nagar of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

➡️आज दिनांक 11-04-2019 को नमो फूड वाली खबर के संबंध में @sspnoida द्वारा दी गयी बाइट #NoidaPolice @Uppolice @igrangemeerut @adgzonemeerut @ceoup @dgpup pic.twitter.com/LMf9yNrwaQ

— NOIDA POLICE (@noidapolice) April 11, 2019

The use of the acronym Namo has become one of the most controversial topics during the Lok Sabha Elections 2019 as it recognised as initials of the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Lately, a TV channel named NaMo TV has been under the ED radar after several Opposition parties including the Congress raised objections. These political parties have demanded immediate banning of the channel during the period poll code is in place.

Published at : 11 Apr 2019 07:50 PM (IST)

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