Kolkata: The Election Commission (EC) Tuesday censured and debarred BJP’s Tamluk candidate and former Calcutta High Court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay from campaigning for 24 hours in his Lok Sabha constituency.
Gangopadhyay’s words have brought “damage and disrepute” to West Bengal, the EC said in a strongly worded four-page letter. ThePrint has accessed a copy of the EC order.
Stating that women have the highest respect in Indian society and that it has been the Commission’s endeavour to strengthen women’s representation and participation in the electoral process, the EC found the former judge to have violated the model code of conduct during his election campaign.
It added that Gangopadhyay’s statement was a direct affront on the erosion of status of women in India.
On Thursday, Gangopadhyay had made the objectionable statement while attacking TMC chief Mamata Banerjee at a political rally. “What is your rate Mamata Banerjee? How much are you being sold for? Your rate is 10 lakhs? Because you put makeup on? Sometimes I wonder if she is a woman,” the BJP candidate said in a speech made in Bengali.
The TMC approached the EC on 16 May to file a case against the former judge, and urged the poll body to restrain the BJP candidate from holding any public rallies or campaigns.
On its part, the EC said that it was convinced that Gangopadhyay made a “low-level” personal attack and thus violated the Model Code of Conduct.
“The Commission painfully notes the fact that such abominable words have come from someone of Abhijit Gangopadhyay’s educational and professional background and hence does not remotely deserve any benefit of doubt,” the EC asserted.
Marking a copy to the BJP chief, the poll body instructed J.P. Nadda to release a fresh advisory to all the BJP candidates and campaigners to follow the campaign guidelines strictly.
“Most regrettably, Shri Abhijit Gangopadhyay has committed violation to a worse degree. This is deemed as a grave failure to enforce one of the most basic conducts in the election campaign, even after clear directions from the Commission. The Commission advises you to issue an advisory from your party’s side to all candidates and campaigners of your party to make sure the lapse does not recur,” the EC said in its order.
BJP MP Samik Bhattacharya came out in support of his party colleague and added that the EC should keep its “ears and eyes” open against those attacking the prime minister.
“If the EC feels Abhijit Gangopadhay has gone against the MCC by commenting on the chief minister, then they have taken action. That is their duty. But the BJP will continue to support Abhijit Gangopadhyay because the TMC has twisted the comment and blocked him from campaigning. We will ask the EC to keep its ears and eyes open against those defaming the PM and also instigating communal sentiments. The EC should go to AIIMS and consult an ENT specialist,” Bhattacharya told ThePrint.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
Also read: Politicisation of Calcutta HC — Abhijit Gangopadhyay’s journey from bench to BJP sparks debate
The EC’s censure should compel the judicial powers responsible for recruiting such a “abominable” person to the Hon. Calcutta High Court to introspect as to where and how its recruitment process has failed them.
Why just 24hrs? Today’s politicians are so devoid of class and etiquitte. Simply crude The language they use, the mud slinging from top to bottom. They need to be reminded they are just public servants.