With elections in Bihar just a month away, RJD chief Lalu Prasad may be in trouble as the Election Commission on Thursday summoned him for violating the modal code of conduct by allegedly invoking caste-based emotions in his recent public lecture in Raghopur.
“...the Commission is, prima facie, of the opinion that by making the aforesaid statements, you have violated the... provisions of Model Code of Conduct...the Commission gives you an opportunity to explain your stand in making the above said statements on or before 3 pm of October 6, 2015, failing which the ECI shall take a decision without further reference to you,” the notice of EC said.
Mr. Prasad made a strong assertion that the coming assembly elections was a fight between “the backward castes and forward castes,” canvassing support from Yadavs and other backward castes to defeat BJP-led NDA.
The EC observed that “promoting feelings of enmity or hatred between different classes of citizens on the ground of religion, race, caste, community or language” is an electoral offence under section 125 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and also an offence under section 153A and section 505(2) of the IPC.
