PM Modi’s mention of Ram temple, appeal to Sikhs, no violation of MCC, EC set to say

The decision is based on a complaint filed by Supreme Court lawyer Anand S Jondale, who alleged that Modi violated the MCC by seeking votes for “his party in the name of Hindu deities and Hindu places of worship as well as Sikh deities and Sikh places of worship” during his address at a public rally in Uttar Pradesh’s Pilibhit on April 9.

The all-clear from EC is expected to come even as the Commission is seized of a Congress complaint against the Prime Minister for his remarks at a rally in Rajasthan’s Banswara on April 21, where he mentioned Muslims and said that the Congress, if voted to power, could distribute the nation’s wealth among “infiltrators” and “those who have more children”. The poll panel has not given a decision in this matter yet.

PM Narendra Modi with Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, BJP leader Jitin Prasada and others at a rally in Pilibhit, Tuesday. (Express Photo)

Sources said the EC is expected to share its decision with Jondale soon as his plea in the Delhi High Court is anticipated to be heard this week. The lawyer had first written to the Commission on April 10, a day after Modi’s rally in Pilibhit, seeking action alleging violation of provisions of the MCC.

These deal with “aggravating existing differences” and creating hatred or causing tension between different castes and communities, as well as appealing to caste or communal feelings to secure votes. The provisions also forbid using mosques, churches, temples, and other places of worship as forums for election propaganda.

The lawyer, in his complaint, asked the Commission to register an FIR against Modi under Section 153A, which pertains to promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, and language. In the absence of a response from the EC, Jondale approached the Delhi High Court on April 15 asking the court to direct the EC to act against the PM based on his complaint.

The Indian Express has learned that the poll watchdog, in its deliberations, found no violation of the MCC, as it concluded that the PM was merely listing the achievements of his government at the Pilibhit rally.

Furthermore, it is also understood that the EC came to the conclusion that the PM’s speech did not promote enmity between communities, and that the mere mention of religion in a campaign speech is not sufficient for the EC to act, as it would unduly restrict a candidate’s freedom to campaign.

At the Pilibhit rally on April 9, Modi had launched a frontal attack on INDIA bloc alliance partners Congress and Samajwadi Party over not participating in the consecration ceremony of the Ayodhya temple early this year, calling it “Ram ka apmaan”, an insult to Lord Ram.

“INDI alliance partners SP and Congress do not care about the country’s heritage. The grand Ram Temple was constructed in Ayodhya after a wait of 500 years. Kalyan Singh ji (former Uttar Pradesh chief minister) not just gave his life but also sacrificed his government for the cause. Every family from across the country contributed for the cause, and so did Pilibhit. But these people of the INDI alliance have long harboured a hatred for the Ram Temple,” he had said.

Modi assured the Sikh community, which has a sizable population in Pilibhit, of the BJP’s support while reminding them of the 1984 riots and the Congress’s alleged role in the pogrom and how the Samajwadi Party is standing with “this party”.

The government led by him, Modi said, not only developed the Kartarpur corridor but also removed GST from material used in langars served in gurdwaras. “Our government brought back those stuck in other countries and copies of Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh holy book) from Afghanistan,” he added.