Yechury Files Complaint Against PM Modi’s Speeches ‘Using Religion for Votes’

New Delhi: CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury has submitted a formal complaint to the Election Commission, demanding “firm and quick” action against speeches by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stop “vitiation” of the election atmosphere.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) is part of the Opposition INDIA bloc of political parties across the country.

In a letter, dated April 13, to the CEC and Election Commissioners, Yechury submitted links of Modi’s recent poll speeches, where he has made \references to the consecration of the Ram temple at Ayodhya on January 22, 2024, and has levelled allegations against certain Opposition parties, terming them as ‘opponents of the Ram temple’.

“Such speeches have been made in Nawada, Bihar on 07 April and in a speech at Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh on 09 April. (Excerpts from the speech as appeared in https://www.narendramodi.in are appended as Annexure I. We are also attaching the video links of the concerned speeches as Annexure II),” said the letter.

It added that in a speech in Ajmer, Rajasthan on April 6, Modi “implied that those who were against the consecration of the temple would oppose the forthcoming Ram Navami celebrations. This is an incitement of religious sentiment against a political opponent. (Excerpts of the speech in Annexure I),” said the letter.

Yechury pointed out that these speeches were “gross violations” of the Model Code of Conduct, specifically the Section, General Conduct, Clause 1 and 3.

“The use of the Ram temple or the deity of Lord Ram to mobilise support for the BJP or to incite passions against opposition parties is a gross violation of the Model Code of Conduct”, he said, adding that it was “highly unfortunate that such divisive and baseless speeches are being made by a person holding the high office of Prime Minister and who is the top-most leader of the ruling party.”

Read the full letter below:

To

The Chief Election Commissioner

Election Commission of India

Nirvachan Sadan

Delhi

Dear Shri Rajiv Kumar,

On behalf of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) we would like to submit the following complaint to you:

The complaint pertains to the content of some of the speeches made by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, during the election campaign. There are a number of instances in his speeches where Shri Modi has made references to the consecration of the Ram temple at Ayodhya on January 22, 2024, in which he has leveled allegations against certain opposition parties. He has labeled them as ‘opponents of the Ram temple’, ‘being against Lord Ram’ and ‘insulting Lord Ram’.

Such speeches have been made in Nawada, Bihar on 07 April and in a speech at Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh on 09 April. (Excerpts from the speech as appeared in https://www.narendramodi.in are appended as Annexure I. We are also attaching the video links of the concerned speeches as Annexure II)

Further in a speech in Ajmer, Rajasthan on 06 April, he implied that those who were against the consecration of the temple would oppose the forthcoming Ram navami celebrations. This is an incitement of religious sentiment against a political opponent. (Excerpts of the speech in Annexure I)

These speeches violate the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct, specifically the Section, General Conduct, Clause 1 and 3. The use of the Ram temple or the deity of Lord Ram to mobilise support for the BJP or to incite passions against opposition parties is a gross violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

The allegations made by Shri. Modi in the excerpts submitted are also against the guidelines given by the Election Commission in its Advisory to political parties dated 1st March 2024.

Some of the utterances of Shri Modi which target specific opposition parties by alleging that they ‘harbour hatred for the Ram temple’ and that they ‘insult Lord Ram’, and warning of those who oppose Ram Navami celebration are clearly meant to rouse religious passions against the intended target. As such, these actions contravene the law and are liable to attract the provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 153A, sub-clause (a) and (b) and IPC Section 505, sub-section 2. Similarly, they attract the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, Section 123, clause 3 and 3A.

It is highly unfortunate that such divisive and baseless speeches are being made by a person holding the high office of Prime Minister and who is the top-most leader of the ruling party.

We urge the Election Commission to immediately intervene in the matter and take steps to curb the violations of the Model Code of Conduct and apply the law of the land impartially, regardless of the stature of the person involved. Firm and quick action by the Election Commission of India is required to stop the further vitiation of the poll atmosphere.

Yours Sincerely,

(Sitaram Yechury)

General Secretary

Communist Party of India (Marxist)