Ahmedabad: Gujarat police have filed two FIRs against Narendra Modi for contravention of poll rules following the Election Commission orders. Both FIRs have been registered against BJP’s PM candidate Narendra Modi for violating code of conduct in Ahmedabad by Gujarat police.
Reacting to the Election Commission notice on BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, the party said that the model code of conduct was not violated by Modi. BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi told reporters that the party will abide by the EC’s decision adding that no code of conduct was violated by Modi. “We respect EC, whatever EC’s verdict will be, we will abide by it. According to us Mr. Modi did not violate any code of conduct,” Lekhi said.
The Election Commission has ordered a police complaint or FIR (First Information Report), against Narendra Modi for flashing his party symbol and making a speech at the polling booth in Ahmedabad where he voted this morning.
“It is evident from Modi’s tone and tenor that he made a political speech. He intended, calculated to influence voting today. Modi intended to affect the results of polling today across India,” the Election Commission said in its notice.
Mr Modi, the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, had flashed his party’s ‘lotus’ symbol while voting and later tweeted a selfie. He also spoke to the media.
The law bans candidates from canvassing within 100 metres of a polling area.
The Election Commission reportedly acted on a complaint from the Congress. The party had earlier accused the commission of going soft on Mr Modi and the BJP when they released their poll manifesto on the first day of voting for the national election.
Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed said, “They have violated the code of conduct repeatedly. They released their manifesto on the first day of election and today Modi flashed his symbol on the day of voting. The Election Commission must take strong action.”
Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party also pointed to Mr Modi being seen with a prominent lotus, his party’s symbol. The party’s Ashutosh tweeted soon after Mr Modi voted, “BJP released manifesto on polling day. Modi did road show on other polling day and now PC (press conference) with party symbol today. will EC react? (sic)”
Mr Modi’s supporters have argued that voters cannot be asked to hide their hands, which is the Congress’ symbol, or, say, put away their spectacles, which is the symbol of the Indian National Lok Dal headed by Om Prakash Chautala.