Hate speech: EC acts big; bars Mayawati, Yogi from poll campaigning

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Monday barred Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath from a poll campaign for 72-hour long and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati for 48 hours respectively, starting 6 am on Tuesday, April 16.

EC acted against the two leaders for violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for uttering communal remarks in their speeches. This means that both the leaders won’t be holding public meetings, road shows and give any interviews or public speeches for the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

Both the leaders were issued a notice under Sub-Section (3) of Section 123 of the Representation of the People’s Act and asked to reply within 24 hours.

While Adityanath has been barred for using making remarks like “Ali”, “Bajrang Bali,” and “Hara virus” the BSP supremo has been censured appealing Muslims not to support the Congress but back the grand alliance.

On April 7, addressing a rally in Deoband, Mayawati said, “I want to say to the people of the Muslim community that you should not distribute your votes in the name of relations and friendship. If you want to defeat the BJP in UP, then you should not let your votes get divided. Instead, vote for the grand-alliance candidates in a consolidated manner. This is my request, especially to the people of the Muslim community.”

In response, Adityanath while addressing a rally in Meerut said, “You would have heard Mayawati’s speech day before yesterday. She said that if she gets only Muslim votes, then grand-alliance doesn’t need the votes of others. I also want to tell you that if Congress, Samajwadi Party, BSP have faith in Ali, then we have faith in Bajrangbali.”