Ahead of Assembly elections in UP, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa & Manipur, PUCL Delhi has written to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar urging the Election Commission of India (ECI) to take immediate, concrete measures to prevent and act against hate speech targeting minorities, Dalits and other vulnerable communities.
In this context the Delhi unit of the human rights platform has demanded the following:
– A Dedicated Hate Speech Monitoring Cell to track rallies, campaign speeches, TV, print and social media.
– Public helpline & complaint mechanism so citizens can report hate speech promptly.
– Immediate legal & electoral action against violations of law and the Model Code of Conduct.
– Accountability of officials who fail or refuse to act on reported hate speech.
– Public awareness campaign explaining what constitutes hate speech and its legal consequences.
Elections must be free from fear, intimidation, communal hatred and violence.
The call was given by T.S. Ahuja, general secretary, PUCL Delhi and advocate Vertika Mani
Secretary (media), PUCL Delhi
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