New Delhi: After the Apex Court questioned the Election Commission for being toothless against errant politicians spewing venom during campaigns the Election Commission has now in its statement on Thursday said it is examining transcripts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks in Latur where he asked first-time voters to dedicate their first vote to Pulwama martyrs as well as to those who carried out the Balakot strikes.
When asked to explain the delay in the decision on PM’s remarks, the election commission said that the district election officer in Latur had only sent a part of Modi’s speech which was not enough to examine and decide.
The officer has only recently sent the entire transcript of the PM’s speech on EC’s request and it shall be soon examined.
Other transcripts of PM’s Sabarimala remarks have also been received by the commission.
Opposition parties have alleged Modi has violated the mode of conduct by using armed forces in his Maharashtra’s Latur campaign that took place on April 9 where Modi had indeed appealed the first-time voters to dedicate their vote to those who carried out the Balakot air strike.
In another rally in Theni in Tamil Nadu, Modi had said Left and the Muslim League were playing a dangerous game on Sabarimala, and were attempting “to strike at the root of faith and aspiration”.
CPM Politburo member Nilotpat Basu had written a letter to the chief election commissioner over PM’s communal remarks and said his remarks were a “flagrant violation” of the model code of conduct.
Minorities Minister Mukhtar Naqvi was also warned besides Amit Shah for violating the model of conduct with “Modiji ki Sena” comment in public rallies.
It said that the commission was going through the response filed by Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, who was served a show cause notice for his controversial remark violating the MCC during his campaign.