Nilotpal Basu writes to CEC

Date: 
Tuesday, April 2, 2019

Nilotpal Basu writes to CEC regarding certain brazen violations of the MCC

Shri Nilotpal Basu, member of the Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), has written to the Chief Election Commissioner, Election Commission of India regarding certain brazen violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by the leadership of the ruling BJP party, including the Prime Minister. We are releasing the text of the letter for publication.

(Hari Singh Kang)

For CPI(M) Central Committee office

Dear Shri. Arora ji,

We are constrained to draw your attention to certain brazen violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by the leadership of the ruling BJP party, including the Prime Minister.

You would kindly recall that we had pointed out to you the impropriety of the public broadcast by the PM on the destruction of a defunct satellite in low orbit with missile as a demonstration of our technology capability. The fundamental question was whether the Prime Minister, who is also a candidate of the BJP, can use the office and the prerogatives to try and influence for the sake of electoral benefit? However, the Commission chose to restrict the question to the role of the DD and gave the national broadcaster a clean chit.

Now, our attention has been drawn to a tweet by Doordarshan News @DDNewsLive for urging people to watch live the PM’s addresses for his #MainBhiChowkidar programme through video conferencing. The print-out of the tweet is appended herewith.

You will also recall that we had pointed out that there is an unabashed attempt by the ruling party to use the post Balakot situation and utilise the exploits of the armed forces for electoral purposes. The Commission had taken note and passed an order to categorically forbid such use of the armed forces in the election campaign. But now in clear violation of that order, the BJP leader and Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath has referred to the Indian Army as “Modi ji Ki Sena” while addressing a rally in Gaziabad on Monday, 1st April 2019.

Similarly, there is another blatant attempt by the Prime Minster, Narendra Modi himself to rouse communal passions by implicitly referring to the outcome in a NIA Court, by equating the accused to the entire Hindu community in an election meeting in Wardha.

In our opinion, these are gross violations of the MCC and has the potential of completely vitiating the social atmosphere in the run up to the elections.

We urge you to immediately take appropriate measures for maintaining the sanctity of MCC and the holding of a free and fair election.

With regards

Yours sincerely

Nilotpal Basu

Member, Polit Bureau