If the EC agrees with the Osmanabad DEO’s opinion, then Modi, for the first time, will be asked to explain his remarks for a prima facie violation of the Model Code of Conduct in an election after becoming the Prime Minister. EC officials indicated that a decision is likely this week.
Osmanabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal this week in Latur to all first-time voters to “dedicate” their votes to the “brave soldiers” who carried out the Balakot air strike and to the “braves martyred” in the Pulwama terror attack is a violation of the Election Commission’s instructions prohibiting the use of armed forces for political gains, the Osmanabad District Election Officer (DEO) is learnt to have said in his report submitted to the Maharashtra Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) The Indian Express reported.
According to sources in the state CEO office, the DEO’s report PM’s Balakot remark prima facie violation, says the poll office along with his comments have been forwarded to the EC and the final call on the matter rests with the Commission, the report added.
Addressing the rally in Ausa, Modi had said: “Mein zara kehna chhahta hoon mere first-time voteron ko. Kya aapka pehla vote Pakistan ke Balakot mein air strike karnewale veer jawanon ke naam samarpit ho sakta hai kya? Mein mere first-time voter se kehna chhahta hoon ki aapka pehla vote Pulwama mein jo veer shahid hue hain un veer shahidon ke naam aapka vote samarpit ho sakta hai kya?” (“I want to tell my first-time voters: Can your first vote be dedicated to the brave soldiers who carried out the air strike in Balakot in Pakistan? I want to tell my first-time voters: Can your first vote be dedicated to the braves martyred in Pulwama?”).
If the EC agrees with the Osmanabad DEO’s opinion, then Modi, for the first time, will be asked to explain his remarks for a prima facie violation of the Model Code of Conduct in an election after becoming the Prime Minister. EC officials indicated that a decision is likely this week, the report said.
The Election Commission (EC) had issued an advisory on March 19, asking parties and their candidates against using pictures of defence force personnel in their campaign material.
“Parties/candidates are advised that their campaigners/candidates should desist, as part of their election campaigning, from indulging in any political propaganda involving activities of defence forces,” the Commission had said.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh shot off a complaint letter to the Election Commission, seeking action against the PM for violation of the model code of conduct.
Calling PM Modi’s speech in Maharashtra as “shockingly disgraceful”, Amarinder Singh said it was a “clear case of violation of the code of conduct, which constitutes the bedrock of free and fair election,” and failure to check such instances suggested bias on the part of the Election Commission.
“That a person of the stature of the Prime Minister should indulge in such shameful acts makes a mockery of the democratic process of election and undermines the independence of the Election Commission as well as the armed forces, who have always prided themselves on their secular character,” the Chief Minister wrote.
India had conducted air strikes on a terror training camp run by Jaish-e-Mohammed in Pakistan’s Balakot after the terror group claimed responsibility for killing 40 CRPF soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama.
The model code of conduct came into effect on March 10 when the Election Commission announced dates for the general elections. India will vote in seven phases beginning today and results will be counted on May 23.
