The Election Commission of India (ECI) on November 23 issued a notice to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for using the words “Jaibkatra (pick pocket) and “Panauti (jinx)” against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during poll campaign in Rajasthan.
Mr Gandhi was asked to reply by November 25 failing which “action deemed fit would be taken by the Commission”.
The poll body said that it had received a complaint from the BJP on Nov 22 alleging that in a public meeting at Batayu, District Barmer, Rajasthan, Mr Gandhi made “wild allegations” and spoke in a “derisive and obnoxious” manner about the Prime Minister.
“It is alleged that comparing a Prime Minister to a “Jaibkatra (pick pocket) and using the word “Panauti” is unbecoming of a very senior leader of a national political party. Further the allegation of grant waivers of ₹14,00,000 crore for the past 9 years, is asserted by the BJP as not borne out by facts,” the notice said adding they were also in violation of Representation of People’s Act and 499 of IPC and provisions of the Model Code of Conduct.
On November 22, a BJP delegation led by Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya complained to the ECI.
“Comparing a Prime Minister to a jebkatra and (calling him a) panauti is unbecoming of any senior leader and is a sign of plummeting political discourse,” the complaint said urging the EC to take appropriate legal action against Rahul.
In its notice on November 23, the Commission recalled an advisory issued by it in May this year where it had expressed concerns at the plummeting level of political discourse in the campaigning period and had asked parties to exercise restraint.
It then asked Mr Gandhi to provide an explanation as to why action as deemed fit for alleged violation of MCC and relevant penal provisions should not be initiated by the Commission and asked him to reply by 6 p.m. on Nov 25. “If no reply is received by then action deemed fit will be taken by the Commission”.
The poll body had on November 22, issued a notice to Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra for “camouflaging” political advertisements in newspapers as news reports or political predictions which it said distorted the level playing field by “creating confusion in the minds of the electors”.
It has last week issue a notice to Congress General Secretary and Rahul Gandhi’s sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for her criticism of the Prime Minister during campaign speeches in Rajasthan.
