Quantum of punition hinges on nature of MCC violation
Following the showcause notice issued by District Electoral Officer (DEO) to the Aam Aadmi Party for violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), Delhi Chief Electoral Officer Vijay Dev on Thursday said it was a serious matter, and the Election Commission of India (ECI) can censure and derecognise the registration of the party.
“The Electoral Office has asked Delhi Police to take stern action against all culprits in the case and ensure that such thing should not happen in future. The Election Commission will not allow political parties to behave in such a manner during the MCC,” Dev added.
In his showcause notice, the DEO stated that the AAP not only organised the demonstration or procession in violation of the various guidelines of the MCC against the BJP headquarters at 11 Ashoka Road but also disturbed the peace of local residents.
“The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its workers despite the MCC being in force organised a procession at Ashoka Road on Wednesday in front of against the office of the BJP without any permission from the competent authority thereby violating various provisions of this MCC. I, Ameya Abhyankar, DEO, New Delhi called upon the AAP, why the action... should not be initiated besides booking the expenditure so incurred by AAP in its account in the organisation of abovesaid demonstration or procession,” the notice said.
Once the Model Code comes into force, all political parties have to seek prior permission from poll authorities before carrying out any activity related to polls. Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) New Delhi, SBS Tyagi in his report submitted to the electoral office of Delhi also accused the AAP protesters of indulging in mutiny. “The protesters reached right up to the gate of BJP Headquarters and started scaling the walls and the main gate. They also tore off hoardings installed outside. The assembly was declared unlawful on the PA system and they were asked to disperse but the crowd continued to indulge in rioting and stone pelting. Finding no alternative and after giving due warnings, water cannon were used to disperse the unruly rabble.”
The senior police official in his report also said the crowd further got aggressive and smashed the glass panes on vehicles, ripped off the upholstery, broke the nozzle of a water cannon. “In retaliation, the other side also tried to organise themselves and in the ensuing melee, cars parked outside were damaged,” the police report said.