EC to look into Jethmalani’s poll code violation charge on PM

The Election Commission on Wednesday said it would look into the complaint made by BJP candidate Mahesh Jethmalani against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for allegedly violating the poll code. The Commission is awaiting the DVD containing the speech of the Prime Minister from the poll officer and after watching it,the issue would be considered,Deputy Election Commissioner J P Prakash told reporters.

Jethmalani,a noted lawyer and contesting from Mumbai North-Central,had accused the Prime Minister of appeasing Muslims for votes by saying the community has a prior right on the country’s resources,and action against him for alleged violation of model code of conduct. Singh had said in Mumbai recently that if the minorities,particularly Muslims,are poor,they have prior claim on the country’s resources.

“I used the word for all minorities and I added for measure particularly Muslim communities. If they (Muslims) are poor,they have a prior right on the resources of the country and I stand by that,” the Prime Minister had said. Objecting to the statement,Jethmalani had said,”Now tell me who is secular and who is non-secular. We are in thick of elections,model code of conduct is in force and Singh is making such statements. He should have been careful. “By making such statements,Singh has attempted to bribe the Muslims. Why is he only referring to Muslims?”