Election Commission censures Arvind Kejriwal for poll code violation

Conveying its “displeasure” to AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, the Election Commission (EC) on Friday censured him for accusing the BJP of inciting communal riots in various parts of Delhi and, thereby, violating the model code of conduct. The EC also asked Kejriwal to be “more circumspect in his public utterances in future”.

“In the commission’s view, your statements have the effect of aggravating existing differences, creating mutual hatred, causing tension between different castes and communities  religious or linguistic  vitiating the purity of the election process and disturbing the level-playing field. This is a violation of the provisions of the model code,” the EC said in its order.

“The commission hereby conveys its displeasure and censures you for violation of the model code and expects you to be more circumspect in your public utterances in future,” the order further said, with the word “censures” in bold and underlined.

A CD sent by the Delhi chief electoral officer along with his report shows Kejriwal making the comment during a press conference on January 14.

Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay had also complained to the EC on this issue. Upadhyay alleged that Kejriwal had said “the BJP is trying to incite communal violence in Delhi and has spread communal violence in Trilokpuri and Nandnagri. It is also trying to do so in Nangloi and Bawana. It is also responsible for attacks on churches in Delhi and has thus violated the provisions of the model code by creating mutual hatred, discord and tension between communities.”

In its order, the EC also said Kejriwal had not denied these statements.

The EC also slapped a fresh show-cause on Kejriwal for telling voters to take bribes from rival parties but vote for the AAP. Kejriwal has been asked to explain his stance by 11 pm on January 27, failing which the EC will take a decision without further reference to him.

AAP chief replies: Upadhyay failed people of delhi

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, on Friday, responded to the Election Commission notice he had been served on a complaint by the BJP, stating that the allegations levelled by Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay were false and malafide.

Alleging that Upadhyay had “failed the people of Delhi”, Kejriwal in his letter to the EC, said, “His own party has not fielded him. Unfortunately, till date the question that we asked the BJP still awaits a response — the complainant and his party do not make it clear as to what their stand will be when our government, after the election, will be expected to critically examine and audit the functioning of discoms to protect the public from poaching by vested interests.”