Headlines
EC censures Kejriwal over 'communal hatred' remark
New Delhi, Jan 23 The Election Commission
Friday censured AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal for his remarks accusing the
BJP of spreading communal hatred in the capital and asked him to be
circumspect in his comments in future.
The poll panel, which had
issued notice to Kejriwal Jan 17 following a complaint by the Bharatiya
Janata Party's Delhi unit chief Satish Upadhyay, said the Aam Aadmi
Party leader's comments violated the model code of conduct.
According
to the report of the Chief Electoral Officer, Kejriwal had said: "The
BJP has been responsible for inciting communal riots in various parts of
Delhi in the recent past."
The notice said: "Now, therefore, the
commission hereby conveys its displeasure and censures you (Kejriwal)
for the above violation of the model code of conduct and expects you to
be more circumspect in your public utterances in future."
In the
commission's views, Kejriwal's statement had the effect of aggravating
existing differences or creating mutual hatred or causing tension
between different castes and communities.
The commission also noted that Kejriwal has not denied his statement in his reply submitted before the poll panel Jan 22.
The Delhi assembly polls would be held Feb 7 and votes will be counted Feb 10.
The Election Commission Friday issued a second notice to AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal for asking people to take bribes for voting.
Holding
that his comments violated the model code of conduct, the poll panel
asked Kejriwal to explain his stance by 11 a.m. Jan 27.
This was
the second notice to the Aam Aadmi Party leader over the bribery issue.
The Election Commission had earlier issued notice to Kejriwal on similar
comments made by him Jan 18.
The notice said: "The commission has noted with concern that a similar statement was made by you earlier also on Jan 18."
"The commission is prima facie of the opinion that by making the aforesaid statements you have repeatedly viola