A day after the Uttar Pradesh Police registered a case against Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary Amit Shah for his alleged hate speeches, the Election Commission on Monday issued a notice demanding explanation within three days as to why action should not be taken against him for violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
The EC has taken cognisance of the election campaign speeches by Mr. Shah in Bijnore, Shamli and Muzaffarnagar districts of Uttar Pradesh.
Issuing the show-cause notice, the Commission said it was, prima facie, of the opinion that by making the alleged speeches, Mr. Shah had violated various provisions of the model code.
The EC notice quoted Mr. Shah’s April 4 speech in Bijnore as purportedly stating that in order to get votes from a particular community, “which torments you… and misbehaves with your sisters and daughters,” Ms. Mayawati had given 19 tickets to that section.
“Friends, tell me, how can we get respect by engaging with those who insulted our community and killed our people? How do we sit with them?” Mr. Shah was quoted as saying.
In Shamli on April 3, Mr. Shah allegedly exhorted people to take “revenge” by casting their vote. He purportedly said people resorted to violence only “when justice was not done and there was one-sided action”.
