After Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal charged the BJP with inciting communal tension, the Election Commission on Saturday issued a show-cause notice to Kejriwal for alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct. The former Chief Minister of Delhi has asked to explain why action should not be taken against him for violating the code by 3 pm on January 20, failing which the poll body will take a decision without any further reference to him.
This move came after BJP’s Delhi president Satish Upadhyay lodged a complaint with the Election Commission in which he alleged that in a Press conference, Kejriwal had claimed that that the BJP is trying to incite communal violence in Delhi and has spread communal violence in Trilokpuri and Nandnagri and is also trying to do so in Nangloi and Bawana. The EC in its notice said that this meant that Kejriwal “violated the provisions of Model Code of Conduct by creating mutual hatred, discord and tension between different communities and people of Delhi”. According to the EC’s notice sent to Kejriwal, there are allegations by Upadhyay where Kejriwal made remarks that BJP is also responsible for attacks on churches in Delhi.
The EC’s notice stated that sub-para (1) of Para I of the Model Code of Conduct provides that “no party or candidate shall indulge in any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic”. “Thus”, the EC said, “The Commission is prima-facie of the view that by making the aforesaid statement, you have violated the provision of sub-para (1) of Para I of Model Code of Conduct.”
The EC also asked Kejriwal to explain his stance on another complaint made by Upadhyay stating that Kejriwal has levelled “false, baseless and unverified allegations” against him and Ashish Sood general secretary of Delhi BJP unit during the Press conference held on January 14.
In reference to this, the EC in its notice quoted another provision on the Model Code which states, “Criticism of other political parties, when made, shall be confined to their policies and programmes, past record and work. Parties and candidates shall refrain from criticism of all aspects of private life, not connected with the public activities of the leaders or workers of other parties. Criticism of other parties or their workers based on unverified allegations or distortion shall be avoided.”
While the AAP convener had first targeted Upadhyay for having a nexus with power companies, on Friday he had openly blamed the BJP for the recent riots that took place in Trilokpuri. The leader had said, “Ever since the BJP has come to power, the communal tension in Delhi has increased and so have the number of riots.”
The Model Code of Conduct came into force on January 12 when EC announced schedule for the Delhi Assembly polls. Meanwhile, BJP on Saturday welcomed the Election Commission’s decision of issuing a show cause notice to Kejriwal. “We welcome the EC's decision. The Commission has taken cognisance of his (Kejriwal) attempts to inflict personal damage and tarnish my image, and his remarks that the BJP is inciting communal tensions in Trilokpuri and Bawana,” said Upadhyay said.
The BJP state president said that the party is observing the developments closely and will take things to its logical conclusion. “We are keeping our eye on all the developments and will take things to logical conclusion on following the law of the land,” he said.