PM Modi’s Speech in TN Invoking Religious Sentiments is Violation of Model Code: Sarma

New Delhi: Former top bureaucrat E A S Sarma, in an open letter to the Election Commissioners, has drawn their attention to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent remarks in Tamil Nadu, while attacking the INDIA bloc.

Quoting a para from Modi’s election speech where he accused the INDIA bloc of “targeting Hindus”, the former secretary to the Government of India, while hyperlinking a report, said: “If what has been reported is factually correct, the Commission should act on this urgently and initiate deterrent, exemplary proceedings against the person making such a statement.” 

He said the cited statement “also amounts to a hate speech that tends to incite people and the Commission should take appropriate action”, as such statements “tend to tilt the level playing ground unduly in favour of the ruling political party at the Centre.”

The PM’s speech centred on Congress leader’s jibe at negative “shakti” in a rally, while talking about the concept of “shakti” in Hinduism. Taking off on that, Modi accused the DMK and Congress of being “anti-Hindu” and “two sides of the same coin”

“The INDI Alliance people repeatedly and deliberately insult Hinduism…’ he is alleged to have said.

“I hope that the Commission acts urgently, decisively, without fear, as per it’s mandate under Article 324 to conduct elections in a free and fair manner,” he concluded.

Read the full letter below:

To

Shri Rajiv Kumar

Chief Election Commissioner

Shri Gyanesh Kumar

Election Commissioner

Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu 

Election Commissioner

Dear Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, S/Shri Gyanesh Kumar/ Rajiv Kumar,

Shri Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister is reported (https://dhunt.in/TyGZK) to

have said, during an election speech in Tamil Nadu, that

“Everyone in Tamil Nadu knows what Shakti is in Hinduism. In Tamil Nadu, Incarnations of Deities are considered as forms of ‘Shakti’. Kanchi Kamakshi Amma, Madurai Meenakshi Amma, Samayapuram Mariamma Devi have big temples in the State. Apart from this, Hindus also believe in ‘Matru Shakti’, ‘Nari Shakti’ …… the plans of the INDIA Alliance have been revealed in their first rally itself. During their first rally in Mumbai, they made statements about destroying ‘Shakti’, about fighting against ‘Shakti’. Their statement has been a sheer insult to the Hindu religion, Hindu faith”

Invoking the religious sentiments by a political leader during elections brazenly violates the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). If what has been reported is factually correct, the Commission should act on this urgently and initiate deterrent, exemplary proceedings against the person making such a statement. 

The above cited statement also amounts to a hate speech that tends to incite people and the Commission should take appropriate action.

Such statements, not substantiated through a legal process, tend to tilt the level playing ground unduly in favour of the ruling political party at the Centre.

I hope that the Commission acts urgently, decisively, without fear, as per it’s mandate under Article 324 to conduct elections in a free and fair manner.

Regards,

Yours sincerely,

E A S Sarma

Former Secretary to the Government of India

Courtesy: Countercurrents.org