EC Sends Show-Cause Notice To BJP's Suvendu Adhikari Over 'Begum', 'Mini Pakistan' Speech In Nandigram

The Election Commission noted that the speech in question concerned Adhikari making references to one "Begum" and remark of "mini Pakistan".

Kolkata: The Election Commission of India has sent a show-cause notice to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari over a case of "hate speech", allegedly delivered by him while campaigning for the ongoing West Bengal assembly polls on March 29 in the constituency of Nandigram.

The complaint against Adhikari was lodged by Kavita Krishnan, a member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (CPI-ML), who claimed that the "hate speech" was delivered in a public meeting and was has since been widely reported in the media.

The Election Commission, in its notice issued on Thursday, noted that the speech in question concerned Adhikari making references to one "Begum", telling the gathering that voting for his political opponent implies voting for a "mini Pakistan".

Next, Adhikari brought the reference of a 'lotus' being used by deities in mythic Hindu rituals and urged his audience to thus "vote for lotus".

The EC has provided an authenticated transcript of the relevant speech as delivered by Adhikari on March 29, as received from the Chief Electoral Officer, and also highlighted the aforementioned sections in the notice. 

The constitutional authority in charge of the elections noted that the said sections have been found to violate Clauses (2) and (3) of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), issued by the EC about the ongoing state assembly polls. 

Clause (2) of the MCC states that candidates are barred from criticising the private lives of their political opponents and refrain from making criticisms based on "unverified allegations or distortion".

Clause (3) states that appealing to "caste or communal feelings for securing votes" is prohibited. Mosques, churches, temples, or other places of worship shall not be used as a form of election propaganda, the clause states.

EC had previously sent a notice to CM Mamata Banerjee, who is facing her former protege in the contest for Nandigram, over a speech where she urged Muslims to vote en mass for Trinamool Congress.

Reacting to the same, she said: “I am telling everyone to vote unitedly, there will no division. How many complaints have been filed against Narendra Modi? He does Hindu-Muslim every day”.

Now Suvendu's response to the show-cause notice is being awaited.

(With Inputs From Manogya Loiwal)