By IndiaTomorrow.net,
New Delhi, 10 Sep 2014: The Election Commission of India on Tuesday sent a notice to controversial parliamentarian of the ruling Hindu right Bharatiya Janata Party for violating election laws by seeking votes in the name of religion in Uttar Pradesh where by-polls are being held for some Assembly seats next week.
The ECI has issued the notice over his controversial speech at an election meeting held in Noida on 7th September. In the said meeting, as the District Election Officer of Gautam Buddh Nagar informed the state and national election panels, Lok Sabha MP from Gorakhpur Yogi Adityanath invoked Ram and asked people to vote for BJP. He had also made some threats while mentioning an incident of Moradabad. Election is being held in Noida Assembly constituency along with 11 seats in the state on 13th Sep.
The ECI notice carries some parts of Adityanath’s Noida speech.
“Ram is the faith of India…He is symbol of Indian nationalism…I want to tell you all that those who believe in the traditions of Ram…want to establish Ram Rajya in Uttar Pradesh also…I appeal to all of you that each vote cast on 13th Sep should go in favor of BJP…”
“I have got a message that an incident has occurred in Moradabad. There are four religious places in a village – one temple and three mosques. The mike of the temple is removed while mosques are not touched. When some young party workers objected to it they were sent to jail…We will not tolerate this oppression…”
According to the EC, the Noida election official has also sent a CD of the meeting.
In last three weeks, the BJP leader who is now election campaign chief of the party for the UP Assembly by-elections has made several provocative and hate speeches in the name of false propaganda of ‘Love Jihad’ targeting the minority community.
New Delhi-based political activist Shehzad Poonawalla had last week approached the Election Commission and National Commission For Minorities seeking action against Adityanath for his controversial hate speeches.
The Commission has found that Adityanath has violated the Model Code of Conduct of election laws and given him 24 hours to respond to the notice.
“Whereas, the Commission is, prima facie, of the opinion that by making the aforesaid statements you have violated the above-said provisions of Model Code of Conduct. Now, therefore, the Commission gives you an opportunity to explain why action should not be taken against you for the aforesaid violation of provisions of Model Code of Conduct latest by 6 pm of 10th Sep 2014,” reads the EC notice.
