EC146;s rocket to Modi: stop VHP

Fresh from its tour of Gujarat, where its chief called the situation 8216;8216;nasty,8217;8217; the Election Commission today applied th...

Fresh from its tour of Gujarat, where its chief called the situation 8216;8216;nasty,8217;8217; the Election Commission today applied the brakes on the proposed yatra of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad from Godhra on November 15 and ending at the Akshardham temple on December 6. This also happens to be the tenth anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition, a day the VHP calls the Vijay Divas.

The EC directed the state government to take 8216;8216;preventive and punitive action8217;8217; to 8216;8216;prevent any such yatra8217;8217; and quash any move aimed at inciting communal passions ahead of the Assembly elections next month.

The Commission, which met today after its two-day visit to Gujarat, quoted from a report of the state administration that 8216;8216;there is every likelihood of communal tensions and passions getting exacerbated by the proposed yatra being planned by the VHP.

8216;8216;The Commission has noted with concern that the proposed yatra would invovle the use of replicas of S-6 coach of Sabarmati Express that was burnt down by miscreants on February 27 in Godhra and the likelihood of communally provocative and intemperate speeches being made during the course of the yatra.

8216;8216;In fact, the state administration has unequivocally stated that the possibilities of law and order situation arising in the wake of the proposed yatra cannot be ruled out. In view of the above, the proposed VHP yatra should not be allowed to take place,8217;8217; the EC ordered, while laying the onus on the Gujarat government.

Pointing out that the maintenance of law and order is the responsibility of the state government, the Commission stated that it 8216;8216;expects the state administration to take all such measures under the existing laws as are considered appropriate for maintaining an atmosphere conducive for conduct of peaceful, free and fair polls even during the run-up period to the elections.8217;8217;

The EC also directed the state government to prevent 8216;8216;any such yatra and procession, etc.8217;8217; and display and use of images that 8216;8216;may incite communal tensions and passions and disrupt law and order situation in the state.8217;8217;

Story continues below this ad

The EC said that election process would get vitiated and 8216;8216;democratic traditions8217;8217; would be 8216;8216;tarnished8217;8217; by any activity that aggravates 8216;8216;existing differences or creates mutual hatred, disharmony, ill-will or causes tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic.8217;8217;

The order noted that such activity would also 8216;8216;seriously jeopardise the law and order situation conducive for the conduct of free and fair elections in the state.8217;8217;

The Commission directed the state government to take 8216;8216;preventive and punitive action8217;8217;against 8216;8216;individuals/parties/organisations indulging in communally incendiary and provocative speeches, posters and pamphlets that incite communal tensions.8217;8217;