The Congress on Thursday knocked the doors of Election Commission complaining against the BJP for violating the model code of conduct in poll-bound Karnataka. The party alleged that the print advertisements published across newspapers in Karnataka was to malign the image of party chief Rahul Gandhi, Karnataka Chief Minister K Siddaramaiah by levelling false and unverified allegations and distortions against the leaders.
“Through these advertisements the Karnataka BJP has explicitly made baseless, unsubstantiated, vague and scandalous allegations and remarks like who is behind the horror of 3800 farmers suicides; who manipulates and appease minorities just for their votes and about who is poisoning society by communalising and dividing people,” said Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi joined by other senior leaders Rajiv Shukla etc.
“Ït is most respectfully submitted that the said advertisements containing grave and irresponsible allegations including killing of farmers and inciting caste-based violence, have no iota of truth. Apart from being misleading and misguiding innocent voters, these shocking and disgraceful allegations have the potential to aggravate existing differences and creating mutual hatred and tensions between different castes and communities, therefore, are in violation of Para 1(1) of the MCC,” Singhvi said.
The party termed as unfortunate that cutouts, shadow images and likeness of Rahul Gandhi, Siddaramaiah have been permitted to make baseless and scandalous statements as stated above.
“It is clear from the shameful contents of these advertisements that there has been a dereliction of duty and the Election Commission should also take strict action against the officials who authorised the publishing of such Advertisements (if these were authorised at all). If they weren’t submitted for approval then strict action should be taken not just against Karnataka BJP but also against the publishers of the newspapers where they have appeared,” stated the party in their memorandum.
The Congress had approached the election watchdog against BJP on similar charges last week.
“The commission had then restrained media from airing the television advertisements as they were held to be violative of MCC but MCMC has till dated not taken any action against offending print advertisements published by BJP Karnataka,” Singhvi alleged.