New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (EC) has raised a red flag over the lyrics of a song that is set to be part of the Congress’ publicity campaign for the Lok Sabha elections. The poll body has asked the party to change the lyrics a day before the launch of the official campaign, a Congress functionary told ThePrint.
The EC informed the Congress’ publicity committee about this issue Saturday. According to its directive, it is mandatory for political parties to seek the commission’s clearance for their publicity material.
Objectionable stanza
The song finalised by the Congress centred around the theme of NYAY, the minimum income scheme promised by Congress president Rahul Gandhi to every household every year. But the EC found one particular stanza objectionable: “Tum jhooti chaalein chal ke, sheheron ke naam badal ke, noton ko kachra kar ke, aur har nirdhan ko chhal ke, nafrat ka dhuaan phailaake, bhai se bhai ladaake, kehte ho hum ko chun lo, ab tum bhi humaari sun lo (After making false moves, changing the names of cities, consigning currency notes to scrap, deceiving every poor person, spreading the smoke of hate, pitting brother against brother, you say ‘elect me’, but you must listen to us)”.
A senior Congress functionary said: “We have no idea what is objectionable in this. We were informed that it is not appropriate.”
However, the party will need to remove the stanza from the song.
Also read: PM Modi didn’t consult Election Commission before ‘Mission Shakti’ address
Delayed campaign
With barely a week to go for the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress is already late with its publicity campaign.
Several national and international advertising and PR firms were shortlisted for the campaign. The party is also set to focus on first-time voters and the youth through its digital content.
The seven-phase elections are to be held between 11 April and 19 May, with the counting of votes scheduled for 23 May.
Yes, it is becoming national culture. If any decision does not suits me, it is wrong decision. If it comes in my favour then the other party should accept it with Grace and should not disgrace constitutional bodies. Isn’t???
EC is under full control of government. It will just say “be careful” to BJP CM, but on others it will use different yardstick. It has blatantly shown indifference NaMo TV. Today EC has used Army’s image with gun to with message that vote has more power.
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I see absolutely nothing wrong with the stanza. In fact every word of it is true. The Congress should go ahead with the song, let Supreme Court decide whether it indeed is objectionable or not.
Ec is working as a puppet of the present regime, there is no individual integrity left in officers who are working in the organisation like ec.
Nowadays institutional credibility sold for sake of position by shameless babus. They are same before retirement and after retirement. This is real anti nationalism
So true. It is indeed ant-nationalism. I don’t just understand why the present regime find it difficult to deal with criticism. Babus seem to believe that they have to serve master, forgetting that we are parliamentary democracy where no individual is supreme, irrespective what that individual thinks of him or herself. Babus and Netas are equal by law and individual voters have all the power. I guess the Netas and Babus have both become self-serving.