The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday censured Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal over his repeated ‘bribe’ remarks during political rallies, instigating people to take bribe from the BJP and Congress but vote for the AAP.
The ECI’s censure meant that the former Chief Minister of Delhi has been found guilty of violating the Model Code of Conduct. Taking cognizance of yet another breach on this count, the ECI has issued another notice to him on Friday.
The Commission conveys “its displeasure and censures you for the above violation of MCC and expects you to be more circumspect in your public utterances in future”.
“In the Commission’s considered view, your statements have the effect of aggravating existing differences or creating mutual hatred or causing tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic, and vitiating the purity of election process and disturbing level playing field, and are thus violative of the provisions of Model Code of Conduct,” the EC said.
EC said, prima facie it is of the opinion that by making the statements he has “repeatedly violated” the provisions of poll code. The latest show-cause was issued after BJP and Congress approached the EC with separate complaints.
The EC’s showcause notice was issued after Kejriwal made yet another statement in Krishna Nagar constituency and instigated the voters to repeatedly take bribe for voting from the rival parties but vote only for AAP.
The Commission reminded him of provisions of the Model Code of Conduct which provides that parties and candidates shall avoid scrupulously all activities which are “corrupt practices” and offences under the election law, such as bribing of voters.
This is EC’s third notice to Arvind Kejriwal. His speech that invited EC’s wrath said, “Its election time. These parties come and offer money to voters, don’t theyIJ BJP will come and so will Congress, don’t refuse to take bribe from these parties.” The rally took place in Krishna Nagar constituency on January 20.
EC has also sought response to this notice from Kejriwal by January 27 at 11 am. The Election Commission notice read that, “The Model Code of Conduct for the Guidance of political parties and Candidates, inter-alia,
provides that parties and
candidates shall avoid scrupulously all activities which are ‘corrupt practices’ and offences under the election law, such
as bribing of voters.”
The Election Commission (EC) previously issued the second notice to Arvind Kejriwal for “prima facie” violation of the poll code by allegedly making a speech where he asked voters to take bribes from BJP and Congress but only vote for his party. An explanation for this act has been sought from Kejriwal by January 22. The EC however, postponed the time for response to January 24.
The public speech made by Kejriwal was: “It’s election time. When people both from BJP and Congress come offering money, don’t refuse, accept... Some have looted money from 2G; some have looted money from coal scam... Take money from both the parties but vote for AAP. “We will fool them this time. They have been deceiving us for the last 65 years. Now it’s our turn,” he had said
The EC notice said that the statement made during a public rally on January 18 in Uttam Nagar, amounts to “abetting and promoting electoral offence of bribery” under relevant sections of the Representation of People Act read with provisions of the IPC.
Even earlier, a notice was served to Arvind Kejriwal for accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party of “communal politics” while speaking at an election rally on last Friday.
“There were no riots in Delhi for 30 years but suddenly we see communal tension all around. We are here to pursue politics of love, not hate,” Kejriwal had said in Trilokpuri area of East Delhi where riots broke out last year in October.
The EC found Kejriwal’s allegations prima facie violate the poll’s Model Code of Conduct which prohibits candidates from commenting on the personal life of the opponents and levy unverified allegations. The code recommends leaders not to spread hatred or cause tension between different communities.
The date of response for both the previous notices has been extended by Election Commission to January 23 and January 24.