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Journalism of Courage
The plight of the families of 22 women and children who perished in the rush for free saris hit home today when the Election Commission came down heavily on the BJP, directing the Uttar Pradesh government to register a bribery case against state BJP leader Lalji Tandon and organisers of his birthday function which ended in a stampede.
The EC also issued a show cause notice to the BJP for prima facie violation of the model code of conduct in the Prime Minister8217;s constituency. The BJP has been asked to explain within seven days why action should not be taken against the party for violating the code by distributing 8216;8216;largesse to the voters8217;8217; during elections.
But chief electoral officer Vijay Sharma told The Indian Express that an FIR would be lodged at the Mahanagar police station by the state election commission. 8216;8216;The draft is being prepared and the FIR will be lodged against Tandon under Section 171 B of the IPC,8217;8217; he said.
The EC directive 8212; it also called for the immediate transfer of the Lucknow DM and SSP 8212; has had Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav doing a U-turn on the sari stampede episode. Immediately after the incident, the CM had handed Tandon a clean chit saying 8216;8216;it was a mishap, Tandon is not responsible.8217;8217; But after today8217;s order, UP chief secretary V K Diwan said the 8216;8216;EC order is a constitutional binding on the government.8217;8217;
No BJP leader had contacted Tandon until late this evening. UP BJP chief Vinay Katiyar said the party was waiting for the EC notice: 8216;8216;Tandonji is not guilty. The BJP can8217;t comment on why the Commission has issued a show cause to the party until it gets a copy of the order.8217;8217;
The Congress, on the other hand, celebrated the EC order. In New Delhi, Congress spokesperson Kapil Sibal said: 8216;8216;Offences under the Representation of People8217;s Act and IPC can be prosecuted and even the election can be challenged.8217;8217; On the conduct of Mulayam Singh, he said, 8216;8216;When the CM says such a tragedy can take place anywhere, he is giving a clear signal to the administration.8217;8217;
