Taking strong exception to the recent attack by the AAP workers at the BJP headquarters which later turned violent, the Chief Electoral Office (CEO) of Delhi warned political parties of criminal prosecution if such an incident is repeated in defiance of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). The MCC came into force on March 3, when the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the dates for the lok Sabha polls.
Making a strong case out of the showcause notice issued to the AAP over the protest, the CEO during an all-party meeting recently, asked political parties not to indulge in Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) Syndrome, which would ultimately hamper their future prospect. “In the meeting we made it clear that they should not indulge in such activities and pollute the atmosphere,” Delhi CEO Vijay Dev said.
“In the first instance, opportunity is given to political parties to explain their position, but if such incidents keep on repeating in violation of Model Code of Conduct, criminal prosecution of the party will be done.” Dev further said de-recognition of a political party is also a possibility, but that option is used when there is no alternative left.
During the meeting, the parties were briefed about the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct and booklet containing these was circulated among them. While the do’s and don’ts were explained, the AAP-BJP incident was quoted as well, Dev said.
“When the MCC is in place, no dharna, rally, protest can be done without prior permission. This was prima facie violated in that particular incident,” Dev added. “Political parties have been asked to ensure that such incident do not take place in future,” said Dev. Once the poll code comes into force, all political parties have to seek prior permission from poll authorities before carrying out any activity which is related to polls. The AAP workers had fought pitched battles on March 5 with BJP activists outside the saffron party headquarters here, hours after former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was detained briefly in Gujarat.
The AAP had been served a notice by the district electoral officer of New Delhi for alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct over the protest. 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 right of other individuals residing nearby area of peaceful and undisturbed home life at 5.10 pm.
“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. The Model Code of Conduct came into force on Wednesday and permission has to be sought from the competent authority for holding any kind of gathering or procession which is related to election issue,” the notice said.
The Delhi Police in its report had accused AAP protesters of indulging in “riotous acts and using criminal force” to prevent it from discharging their duty regarding Wednesday’s protest that had turned violent. The AAP in its reply had said it was an “instant reaction” to its chief Kejriwal’s detention in Gujarat. The AAP said the protest was not a “planned event” and maintained that it respects the poll code.