Our Correspondent /
In the backdrop of Bihar polls, Election Commission has appealed to all political parties, their leaders and contesting candidates to observe utmost restraint and decency in their poll campaign speeches. Expressing deep anguish and serious concern over the plummeting levels of political speeches by the leaders and candidates in the ongoing Bihar assembly elections, the Commission asked them to set an example of high standards of conduct for future elections.
In a letter to all political parties, the poll body said the guidelines and advisory issued by it are not being followed and situation continues to be far from satisfactory.
It said the tone and tenor of speeches have been found to be calculated to cause mutual hatred, disharmony and ill-will and aimed at aggravating differences between different political parties and citizens on the ground of religion, caste and community.
This amounts to violation of model code of conduct.
The Commission reminded the political parties that freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under the Constitution is not absolute and it is required to be exercised in a manner that it does not transcend the boundary of decency and morality and disturb public order or amount to defamation or incite an offence.