The Election Commission on Sunday issued notices to Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, BJP leader Amit Shah and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, seeking explanations from the three leaders for delivering speeches that are in violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
The commission has strongly objected to the speech Mr. Gandhi delivered on October 29 in Madhubani district.
In it, the disagreeable part is when Mr. Gandhi lashes out at the BJP saying: “Their plan is making two Indians fight each other. Wherever the party goes… UP, Maharashtra, Haryana, wherever polls are due, their foot soldiers go and turn Hindus against Muslims.”
Similarly, Mr. Shah’s remark that firecrackers would go up in Pakistan if they lose the elections in Bihar, is not in sync with the Model Code of Conduct.
The commission observed that Mr. Shah’s comment “has the potential of disturbing harmony and aggravating the existing differences between social and religious communities.”
Taking serious note of Mr. Prasad’s repeated jibes at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr. Shah, the commission observed that the RJD supremo did not pay heed to its advisory that asked him to desist from making “impugned statements” that violate “the letter and the sprit of Model Code of Conduct.”
By November 4, all three leaders will have to explain their positions.
