AMN / WEB DESK
The Election Commission of India has issued a notice to Karnataka BJP President in the context of a complaint received from Congress that the BJP today published an advertisement making some specific claims about the Congress party.
In the notice, the Commission has directed the BJP President of Karnataka to convey the verifiable and traceable facts regarding the claims made in the advertisement along with an explanation by 8 PM tomorrow and also put it in the public domain. The Commission said that while general claims and accusations are part of election campaigns, specific allegations and claims about the opponents need to be supported by verifiable and traceable facts.
It’s said, any claim made without basis and empirical evidence has the potential of misleading the voters thereby robbing them of their right of making right and informed choices amongst the candidate thus disturbing the level playing field. The Commission said that the advisory issued by it also provides that in no uncertain terms, unverified allegations or claims should not be made in advertisements.
EC issues letter to Congress president to provide clarification over Sonia Gandhi’s Karnataka sovereignty or integrity remark
The Election Commission has issued a letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to provide clarification and take rectification measures in respect of a tweet by Congress party’s official handle attributed to Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Congress had tweeted that Sonia Gandhi has sent a strong message that the Congress will not allow anyone to pose a threat to Karnataka’s reputation, sovereignty or integrity. The Commission received a complaint regarding this today submitted by BJP leaders Bhupender Yadav, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Tarun Chugh, Anil Baluni, and Om Pathak. Election Commission said that according to the complaint made by BJP, the tweet is violative of the mandatory oath undertaken by the political parties under section 29A (5) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 at the time of registration.
BJP had approached the EC over Ms Gandhi’s Karnataka sovereignty remark and demanded action on the matter. Talking to the media after the meeting, Mr. Yadav said, such a comment is against the sovereignty and integrity of the country. He alleged that Sonia Gandhi deliberately used the word which is an anti-national act. He accused the Congress of making false allegations against BJP in the poll campaign.