PM’s Interview to ANI Prima Facie Violates Model Code: Sarma, Chhokar Write to EC

New Delhi: EAS Sarma, former secretary to the government of India, and Jagdeep S Chhokar, former professor, IIM-Ahmedabad, have written a joint letter to the Election Commissioners demanding action for prima facie violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in the recent interview of Prime Minister Narendra Modi aired by news agency ANI.

The letter, hyperlinking the interview, cites the references made by Modi to the Ram Temple and Santan Dharma, “based on misrepresentation of the views of other political parties’ and amounting to appealing to the religious sentiments of voters.

Sarma and Chhokar also referred to the Prime Minister’s “assertion on the so-called “transparency” of the Electoral Bonds scheme”, which was held unconstitutional by the Supreme Court recently. This amounts to ,isleading voters, they said in the letter.

The letter also refers to the over 67-minute interview, “as a part of the electioneering campaign of the PM”, adding that it “amounts to the ruling party taking advantage of its sway over the media to gain an undue advantage vis-a-vis the other political parties to secure an electoral advantage over them.”

“It also amounts to the ruling political party misusing a media channel free of cost to convey to the voters many schemes proposed to be introduced, such as a new scheme proposed for corporate political donations, which are not a part of BJP’s election manifesto,” said the letter, urging the three Election Commissioners to take action in the interests of a free and fair electoral process.

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,

We refer to an interview given by the Prime Minister to the ANI news agency recently, which can be accessed at https://youtu.be/0XLctFnrXTE?si=wMHs2q-5nIOOX4p9.

We feel that the interview prima facie violates the requirements of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) as follows.

• The portions of the PM’s interview relating to references to Ayodhya and Sanatana Dharma, based on misrepresentation of the views of other political parties, amount to appealing to the religious sentiments of voters to vote for the ruling political party to the disadvantage of other parties
• The PM’s assertion on the so-called “transparency” of the Electoral Bonds scheme, recently held to be illegal by the apex court, is factually incorrect, having the effect of misleading voters
• The ANI interview, lasting more than 67 minutes, as a part of the electioneering campaign of the PM, amounts to the ruling party taking advantage of its sway over the media to gain an undue advantage vis-a-vis the other political parties to secure an electoral advantage over them. It also amounts to the ruling political party misusing a media channel free of cost to convey to the voters many schemes proposed to be introduced, such as a new scheme proposed for corporate political donations, which are not a part of BJP’s election manifesto

We request the Election Commission to initiate action against those concerned urgently.

Yours sincerely,

Jagdeep S. Chhokar

Former Professor, IIM (Ahmedabad)

E A S Sarma

Former Secretary to the Government of India

Courtesy: Countercurrents