EC says Modi didn’t violate poll code with ‘majority is minority’ speech in Maharashtra

Poll body bases its decision on Maharashtra Chief Electoral Officer’s report, doesn’t take a call on Modi & Amit Shah invoking armed forces in their speeches.

File photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi | PTI

New Delhi: The Election Commission has given a clean chit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, concluding that he did not violate the Model Code of Conduct in his 1 April speech in Wardha, Maharashtra.

The EC held a meeting of all three election commissioners Tuesday and took this “considered view” keeping in mind the provisions of the code and the report submitted by Maharashtra’s Chief Electoral Officer, the commission stated.

While addressing a rally in Wardha, Modi had said the opposition was “scared” to field candidates in Hindu majority-dominated constituencies — a remark the opposition claimed was a clear violation of the poll code.

“The Congress insulted Hindus. People have decided to punish it in the election. Leaders of that party are now scared of contesting from constituencies dominated by the majority population. That is why they are forced to take refuge in places where the majority is a minority,” Modi had said in his speech, in a veiled reference to Rahul Gandhi contesting from Wayanad in Kerala.

No call on other speeches

The EC, however, did not take a call on the PM’s speech in Latur, where he exhorted first-time voters to dedicate their votes to CRPF jawans killed in Pulwama, or the IAF pilots who had conducted the air strikes on Balakot.

It also did not take a call on BJP president Amit Shah’s speech where he invoked the armed forces in an election speech — in alleged violation of the EC’s own directions.