Calling the Congress party the “cry baby” of this election, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday said the model code of conduct could not encroach on the right to free speech.
He said political parties had developed an excessive tendency to allege violation of the model code by their opponents.
Those complaining to the Election Commission about violation of the model code must keep in mind that the right to free speech had not been diluted by the code in any way, he noted. “The MCC cannot encroach the right to free speech. The two have to exist harmoniously,” Mr. Jaitley said.
