Journalism of Courage
Arguing that the RSS and spiritual leaders like Baba Ramdev and Sri Sri Ravishankar are “conducting political activities” for the BJP “without being registered as a political party”, the Congress on Tuesday asked the Election Commission to monitor their activities relating to the election campaign and include the expenditure incurred by them in the poll expenses of the respective candidate of the party in the constituency.
In its complaint, the Congress claimed that Ramdev is using his yoga camp platform for political activity and cited the presence of BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s presence at one such camp in Delhi.
“They may have created their aura in their respective fields and as long as they confine their activities to discharge the aims and objects of their institution, it would not come within the meaning of political activities and their apolitical character will be respected. Unfortunately, all of them are indulging in political activities without following the norms laid down by the Election Commission of India for conduct of fair and proper elections,” the complaint by AICC legal department secretary K C Mittal said.
“At Ramlila Maidan, Acharya Govind Dev Giri who had come from Varanasi was on the dais and recited verses from the Bhagwad Gita and also mentioned about the holy cow and Hindutva in the presence of Modi and sought votes for him.”
“All the activities and movements, relating to election campaign by all such persons/ organisations/ groups/ associations should be monitored, video-graphed and checked in each of the constituency,” the Congress said.
Besides, it demanded that action be taken against them if they “seek votes in the name of religion, caste or community, directly or indirectly”.
