EC issues notice to Yogi Adityanath

The EC’s notice follows a report, accompanied with a CD and some press clippings, that was sent to it by District Election Officer of Gautam Buddh Nagar on September 8 regarding an alleged inflammatory speech delivered by Adityanath in Noida on September 7.

“Ram Bharat ki astha hai. Bhartiya rashtriyta ka prateek hain. Aap sabse kehna chahoonga ki Ram ki parampara mein jo log vishwas karte hain, Ram rajya ki sthapana chahte hain UP mein bhi, aap se anurodh hai ki 13 tareekh ko padne wala ek-ek vote Bhajpa ke paksh mein jaana chahiye (India’s belief lays in Lord Ram. He is a symbol of India’s nationality. Whosoever believes in Lord Ram and wants to establish Ram rajya in UP, I urge them that on September 13, every vote should be cast in favour of the BJP),” Adityanath is accused of having said in his speech.

Adityanath also allegedly said that while loudspeaker from a temple were removed in Moradabad, it were allowed in mosques. He also reportedly said those who trouble Hindus with riots will have to pay dearly.

Quoting rules, the EC has told Adityanath that making appeal to vote on ground of religion for furtherance of prospects of elections of a candidate is a corrupt practice.

Polling in all 11 Assembly seats including Noida and one Lok Sabha seat of Mainpuri in Uttar Pradesh is on September 13. Adityanath is BJP’s star campaigner in UP Assembly bypolls.