scorecardresearch
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Support Our Journalism
HomePoliticsPM Modi didn’t consult Election Commission before ‘Mission Shakti’ address

PM Modi didn’t consult Election Commission before ‘Mission Shakti’ address

Election Commission had no idea about PM Modi’s address on the A-SAT missile test, is set to probe the speech for Model Code of Conduct violation.

Follow Us :
Text Size:

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India had no idea about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise address to the nation on the country’s successful anti-satellite (A-SAT) missile test, and is now examining the transcript of the PM’s address to see whether it violated the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), ThePrint has learnt.

Top sources in the EC said no permission was sought from it before the PM addressed the country about ‘Mission Shakti’.

The poll panel, which faced flak for not objecting to the surprise broadcast, may now ask the government to submit a response explaining what the urgency was to deliver such an address when the MCC is in force. The MCC prohibits ministers from using government platforms for political advertising.

The matter was discussed at a meeting called by the EC Wednesday.


Also readModi govt pushes through A-SAT missile test that UPA had not permitted


What PM Modi said

In an unexpected address reminiscent of demonetisation in November 2016, the PM Wednesday said India had for the first time used an anti-satellite missile and shot down a live satellite 300 km in space.

“Until now, only three countries in the world had this capability…America, Russia and China,” Modi said in a televised address to the nation. “Now, India is the fourth country to achieve this. This is a proud moment for every Indian.”

‘Mission Shakti’ lasted three minutes, and was a “tough operation” which used state-of-the-art technology, Modi said, adding that all objectives of the mission were met.

Opposition leaders question timing

Even as leaders of opposition parties lauded Indian scientists for their achievement, they questioned the timing of the PM’s address. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said there was no urgency to make this announcement now, and that her party, the Trinamool Congress, would file a complaint with the EC.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley evaded the question on whether permission was sought from the EC before the address, saying: “As far as the issue of EC is concerned, let me say India’s nuclear programme is a continuous process. It cannot be put to a halt because it doesn’t suit the West Bengal Chief Minister or any other leader”.

Is there a precedent?

While the EC is studying whether there is precedent of a PM making such a speech once the MCC comes into force, S.K. Mendiratta, who was legal adviser to the commission for over 20 years, said there hasn’t.

“I don’t remember a PM giving such a speech when the MCC is in force in my memory at least,” Mendiratta told ThePrint, indicating the EC may be in uncharted territory when it sits to discuss the speech.


Also read: Bharat Mata chants & ode to Vajpayee’s muscular ‘Shakti’ — how Modi made the most of A-SAT


 

Subscribe to our channels on YouTube, Telegram & WhatsApp

Support Our Journalism

India needs fair, non-hyphenated and questioning journalism, packed with on-ground reporting. ThePrint – with exceptional reporters, columnists and editors – is doing just that.

Sustaining this needs support from wonderful readers like you.

Whether you live in India or overseas, you can take a paid subscription by clicking here.

Support Our Journalism

4 COMMENTS

  1. PM’s decision, in my view, is covered by executive privilege. However, for government ministers to take a press conference on the subject in the party headquarters, the symbol prominent on a saffron background, could have been thought through more carefully.

  2. There was a website’s news item this evening with the caption saying that this satellite-shooting capability had been with India since 2012. I could only read the caption, when I clicked on it sometime back, I read a message that that video had been removed.

    All of us who have worked in ANY office, will know that there are two types of people in EVERY office: those who do the work, and those who are ever-eager to present that work to the boss.

    This is election time, and you know janta is the boss. And Modi ji is “that type of a guy”.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Most Popular