The Election Commission of India on Tuesday issued a notice to Congress leader Randeep Surjewala for his “undignified” comments against BJP MP and actor-turned-politician Hema Malini.
The poll body also asked Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to ensure “respectful” public discourse towards women by party leaders and functionaries.
In the notice to Mr. Surjewala, the poll body said: “The comments have been found to be highly undignified, vulgar and uncivilized and to be prima-facie violative of the provisions of the model code of conduct and the EC’s advisory dated March 1”.
Mr. Surjewala has to respond by April 11.
BJP’s IT department head Amit Malviya had shared an undated video on X and had accused Mr. Surjewala of making some objectionable remarks about Ms. Hema Malini.
Mr. Surjewala has said the undated video was edited and distorted and he never intended to insult or hurt the actor-turned-politician.
Ms. Hema Malini is the BJP candidate from Mathura seat in Uttar Pradesh.
The EC notice to the Congress president said: “While the commission is serving due notice to Mr. Surjewala, it has also taken serious note of the repeated violations being made by senior political functionaries of Indian National Congress and hereby directs that the steps taken by the party to ensure strict compliance of the commission’s advisories regarding honour and dignity of women during public discourse may kindly be intimated to the commission at the earliest”.
Mr. Kharge has to respond by April 12.
