EC notice to Kejriwal for seeking Muslim votes on grounds of religion

New Delhi: The Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday issued a notice to Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct.

According to reports, the EC has issued notice to him as he had appealed to Muslim voters on religious grounds to support his party AAP in the Delhi Assembly elections.

EC has asked Kejriwal to reply to the notice till 11 AM on November 25 as to why action should not be initiated against him for prima facie violation of the Model Code. The Model Code prohibits appeals to voters on grounds of religion.

"The Commission has prima facie observed that by distributing the pamphlet (seeking Muslim votes), you have violated the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct.”

"You are hereby called upon to explain by 11 A.M. on November 25 as to why action should not be initiated against you for the said violation," the notice states.

According to EC, if Kejriwal fails to submit his reply by the deadline, appropriate action would be initiated against him.

The notice follows a complaint filed by Harish Khurana, son of former Delhi Chief Minister Madan Lal Khurana, who objected to pamphlets being distributed by Kejriwal containing appeals to Muslim voters for their backing.

The pamphlet, whose objectionable parts EC has reproduced in its notice, purportedly has AAP saying that, "Delhi's Muslims should support Aam Aadmi Party in the forthcoming polls.

"We (AAP) are not seeking votes for power or money but for rooting out corruption from the system and building a corruption-free India where people belonging to all religions can live in peace," the pamphlet states.

Kejriwal further appeals in the pamphlet that, "BJP is a communal party. Till now the Muslims did not have any alternative, but now they have an honest alternative in the form of AAP.

"We appeal to the Muslim voters of Delhi to back our endeavours for clean politics and not fall into the trap in which they have been falling for the past 65 years."

The Model Code prohibits any such appeal before anelection which invokes religion or caste.

Sub para 3 of Para 1 of the Code provides that, "There shall be no appeal to caste or communal feelings for securing votes.

"Mosques, churches, temples or other places of worship shall not be used as a forum for election propaganda

http://www.newsnation.in/article/24066-election-commission-issues-notice-arvind-kejriwal.html

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/delhi-elections-2015/EC-issues-notice-to-Kejriwal-over-his-remarks-against-BJPs-Satish-Upadhyay/articleshow/45923199.cms