The Election Commission on Monday ordered a 72-hour ban on Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu from campaigning for violating the model code of conduct by appealing for vote on religious lines. Reprimanding Mr. Sidhu for his “objectionable” comments in Bihar’s Katihar on April 15, the Commission also restrained him from giving any statement in the media from 10 a.m. on Tuesday.
The EC had earlier sought an explanation from him. He responded through his lawyer saying the media had misquoted him and that his remarks should be seen as a whole, in a context.
However, after examining the contents, the poll panel opined that it was an objectionable speech, which had the “tone and tenor” of aggregating the differences or creating mutual hatred among religious communities.
At the rally, Mr. Sidhu had allegedly appealed to the Muslim community to vote en bloc.
