The Election Commission has imposed restrictions on BJP MP and Union Minister Maneka Gandhi as well as Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan for objectionable comments made during their speeches. They both have been found guilty of violating the Model Code of Conduct. Maneka Gandhi has been barred from campaigning for 48 hours and Azam Khan has been barred from campaigning for 72 hours from 10 am on April 16, 2019.
While Maneka was barred for asking Muslims in Pilibhit, her constituency, to vote for her if they wanted jobs, Khan was banned for making objectionable remarks against actor-turned-politician Jaya Prada, his BJP opponent in Rampur.
In its notice, the Election Commission mentioned that Azam Khan had similarly been censured before the 2014 General Elections as well and stated, “Azam Khan has not changed his way of campaigning and he is still indulging in using very objectionable language in election campaigning.”
The two leaders have been barred from holding any public meetings, public processions, public rallies, road shows and interviews, public utterances in media (electronic, print, social media), etc. in connection with the ongoing elections.
On Monday, the poll panel had similarly barred Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and BSP chief Mayawati from campaigning for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. While Yogi Adityanath was barred for 72 hours for calling Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) a ‘virus,’ Mayawati was barred for 48 hours for asking Muslims to vote for their coalition in Uttar Pradesh and ‘not split votes between the BSP and the Congress’.
Mayawati moved the Supreme Court on Tuesday over the ban but the apex court, expressing satisfaction with the action taken by the Election Commission, declined to hear her.
“It seems the Election Commission has woken up by our orders and barred various politicians from campaigning for varying timing. This makes it clear no further orders are required now,” the Supreme Court bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, said.