ECI asks AAP to modify campaign song over slogan on Arvind Kejriwal's arrest; Atishi attacks BJP

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• Apr 28, 2024 | Guriya Khatun

The poll panel banned a campaign song for the first time in the history of the country,  Atishi said.

Digital Desk: The Election Commission of India has ordered the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to modify the content of its Lok Sabha elections' campaign song. In violation of its guidelines and the Advertising Codes, the poll panel claimed that the song's constant reference of Arvind Kejriwal's arrest in a slogan denigrated the judiciary. 

Once the necessary modifications have been made, the Election Commission asked the ruling party in Delhi to submit the poll song again for certification.

The Enforcement Directorate arrested Arvind Kejriwal in March in relation to the Delhi liquor policy issue. According to the AAP, the BJP's refusal to allow him to campaign in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections is the reason he was imprisoned. The Delhi High Court did, however, uphold his arrest earlier this month.

"The phrase 'jail ke jawaab me hum vote denge' showing an aggressive mob holding the photo of Arvind Kejriwal showing him behind bars, casts aspersions on the judiciary. Further, the said phrase appears several times in the advertisement which contravenes the provisions of ECI Guidelines and Rule 6(1(g) of Programme and Advertising Codes prescribed under the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994," it said.

AAP claims BJP conspiracy 

The Election Commission allegedly prohibited the AAP's campaign song, AAP leader Atishi said. According to her, the BJP has used the Election Commission's move as a political tool. 

The poll panel banned a campaign song for the first time in the history of the country,  Atishi said.

"The Election Commission has prohibited the AAP's campaign song, marking yet another political move by the BJP. The Election Commission has prohibited a political party's election song for the first time in India's history," Atishi was cited by news agency ANI.

Furthermore, Atishi claimed that the Election Commission overlooked the Bharatiya Janata Party officials' violation of the Model Code of Conduct. 

The Election Commission, she alleged, stated that the campaign song depicted the CBI and Enforcement Directorate Directors in a bad light. 

"The ECI claims that discussing dictatorship is a critique of the ruling party, but it does not protest when the ED, CBI, and other cases against political leaders are closed as soon as they join the BJP. We bring up this point in our campaign song. Accordingly, ECI likewise regards the BJP as a dictatorial system," continued.

Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi, has been under pressure from the BJP to step down. But AAP is adamant that he will lead the government from jail.