Congress claims PM Modi held ‘roadshow’ after casting vote, calls EC ‘puppet of PMO’ // What happened to the FIRs against Narendra Modi in 2014 for poll code violation?
The Congress on
Thursday alleged Prime Minister Narendra Modi violated
the Model Code of Conduct in Gujarat by holding a roadshow after casting his
vote in Sabarmati. Taking to Twitter, party leader P Chidambaram claimed the
Prime Minister conducted a “full fledged campaign” on the day of polling, and
condemned the Election Commission for “sleeping on the job.”
“Allowing a roadshow
of PM on voting day is a gross violation of code of conduct. It is an election
campaign. What is the EC doing?” Chidambaram tweeted. “The images on TV will
leave no one in doubt that the BJP and PM have conducted a full fledged
campaign on polling day. Shocking violation of Rules. EC is sleeping on the
job.” The former finance
minister also appealed to the media to “search its conscience” and stand up to
the “unprecedented” violation. “Let the media look at the images on the TV
screens, search its conscience and reach a conclusion. There has not been a
more blatant violation of the code of conduct on polling day,” Chidambaram
said. “Stand up Media to this unprecedented violation of the code of conduct.
Condemn the EC for allowing this gross abuse”.
Party spokesperson
Randeep Singh Surjewala said the EC has “abdicated its constitutional
responsibility.” Addressing a press conference, Surjewala said, “A desperate
Prime Minister facing defeat in Gujarat holds a Road Show with BJP flags,
Flagrantly Flouts the Constitution and Code of Conduct. A Puppet Election
Commission looks on with complicity denigrating its role of an independent
Arbiter.”
“EC’s conspiratorial
silence and absolute inaction reflects as to how one more independent
institution in our polity has become a puppet at the whims and fancy of
Bhartiya Janata Party. The double standard of Election Commission can be gauged
by the fact that while it registers an FIR against news channels and news
papers for holding an interview of Congress President, Shri Rahul Gandhi at New
Delhi; it gives a free licence to BJP and Shri Narendra Modi to violate the
law, the Constitution and Code of Conduct as it meekly surrenders itself and
prostrates before the Prime Minister and the ruling party.”
http://indianexpress.com/elections/gujarat-assembly-elections-2017/voting-narendra-modi-roadshow-congress-chidambaram-model-code-of-conduct-election-commission-4982420/