The Hindu : Front Page : Notices issued to Sonia, Digvijay

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 10, 2007
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Notices issued to Sonia, Digvijay

J. Venkatesan

Violation of code, BJP tells Election Commission

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Sunday issued notice to Congress president Sonia Gandhi for her election speech in Gujarat on December 1 that “those running the Gujarat government are liars, betrayers and merchants of fear and death.”

The Commission also issued notice to Congress leader Digvijay Singh for his reported speech on December 3 on the “existence of Hindu terrorism in Gujarat.”

The full Commission, comprising Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami and Commissioners Navin Chawla and S.Y. Quraishi, decided to issue notice to Ms. Gandhi after watching a compact disc of her speech at an election rally at Jamanpada, Chikhli (Navsari).

Acting on two complaints from the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Commission, in its notice, held that prima facie the statement made by Ms. Gandhi in the speech amounted to violation of the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct.

The Commission called upon her to respond by 12 noon of December 11 to decide on the further course of action.

According to the complainants, Ms. Gandhi said in her speech: “during the rule of people who claim a ‘Bhaya mukt Samaj,’ nobody is safe. So many of my sisters, children and brothers have been exploited and are being exploited even now. Only criminals are safe; those who are getting protection from the government. The truth is that … today, those running the Gujarat government are liars, betrayers and merchants of fear and death.”

Provisions of code

The Commission, in its notice, referred to the provisions of the model code, which says, “No party or candidate shall indulge in any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic. Criticism of other political parties, when made, shall be confined to their policies and programme, past record and work. Parties and candidates shall refrain from criticism of all aspects of private life, not connected with the public activities of the leaders or workers of other parties. Criticism of other parties or their workers based on unverified allegations or distortion shall be avoided.”

The Commission, while seeking Ms. Gandhi’s response, sent copies of the complaints dated December 2 and 7 made by Jayantilal S. Barot, Gujarat BJP general secretary, and a copy of the compact disc relating to the speech.

The Commission also issued notice to BJP deputy leader in the Lok Sabha V.K. Malhotra for his speech stating that “the Congress President Sonia Gandhi has a hatred for Hindus. She speaks against Hindus and chooses to remain silent when atrocities are committed against the community.” He has been asked to reply by 12 noon on December 11.

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