Ads appear slamming EC and NHRC

It’s been two days since such advertisements, running down not only political parties but also constitutional bodies like the Election Commission (EC) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), have been appearing in Gujarati newspapers here.

Predictably, Opposition leaders are alleging a BJP hand in the matter. But State BJP president Rajendrasinh Rana denied the charge, saying his party had nothing to do with the ads and that he did not know who was placing them.

The advertisements have been issued by a group which calls itself the Gujarat Gaurav Samiti. Preferring to remain anonymous, the Samiti members release the ads through a local agency called Ajit Advertisers. Interestingly, the ad agency is run by RSS activist Ajit Shah, who refuses to disclose those behind the ads. Incidentally, the BJP also releases its ads through the same agency.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Shah said the ads were being issued in public interest by people who don’t wish to be identified. ‘‘I run an advertising agency and if somebody wants to issue an advertisement I cannot say no. I cannot reveal who it is,’’ he said.

Despite the BJP’s claims, Despite the BJP’s claims, political observers feel the party is using the agency as a front to put forward its opinion on the EC and NHRC.

One of the ads, which appeared on the back page of a few local dailies today, also gave some ‘‘statistics’’. It pointed out that there are 30,000 Hindu refugees in Mizoram but elections can be held there; three lakh Kashmiri Pandits have been displaced from the Valley, but elections can be held there; however, elections cannot be held in Gujarat where 5,000 people are living in relief camps. ‘‘Why this injustice to Hindus,’’ queried the ad.

The ads have drawn sharp criticism from Opposition parties, particularly the Congress, which has accused the BJP of projecting the EC and NHRC as pro-minority agencies. State PCC president Shankersinh Vaghela said that the BJP, using the Gujarat Gaurav Samiti as a front, was maligning the two constitutional bodies. ‘‘We will take legal action against whoever is issuing these advertisements,’’ he added.

‘‘It is an ad issued on the directions of BJP leaders,’’ said Chhabildas Mehta, former Chief Minister and now Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader. ‘‘Using an agency as a front is a practice followed by the BJP and its associates,’’ he added.

Satish Desai, Janata Dal (Secular) general secretary has submitted a memorandum to the Election Commissioner, stating that the ads ‘‘are a deliberate attempt to garner Hindu votes by provoking their feelings…the antecedents of the Gujarat Gaurav Samiti should be checked as publishing such an advertisement can be a crime under Sections 153, 153(A), 153(B) and 298 of the IPC.’’

Desai has also sent a copy of the memorandum, with copies of the ads, to the President, Prime Minister, State Director General of Police and Chief Electoral Officer of the state.