Attacking the lone Muslim minister and Congress MLA Mohammad Akbar, Sarma had last week said that “the land of Maa (Mother) Kaushalya will get defiled if Akbar isn’t sent off as soon as possible”.
Digital Desk: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday issued a show-cause notice to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for allegedly making communal remarks during an election campaign in Chhattisgarh.
Sarma had said that "the land of Maa (Mother) Kaushalya will get defiled if Akbar isn't sent off as soon as possible" last week, targeting the Congress MLA and lone Muslim minister, Muhammad Akbar.
The BJP leader was asked by the ECI in its notice to reply by Monday at 5 pm on why he should not face appropriate consequences for violating the Model Code of Conduct.
The election commission stated that it received a complaint on October 19 from Congress alleging that Sarma "allegedly made communally charged statements" against Akbar on October 18 during a public meeting in Kawardha, Chhattisgarh.
The poll authority stated in the notice that the Model Code of Conduct's rules for political parties and candidates went into effect after it declared elections in five states. The MCC and RP Act of 1951 were determined to have been prima facie violated by Sarma's statement, according to the ECI.
“…Clause 1 of Part I General Conduct of Model Code of Conduct for the guidance of Political Parties and Candidates’ provides that ‘No party or candidate shall include in any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic’,” the ECI order reads.
It also gave a reminder to Sarma that, in accordance with Clause 2 of Part I General Conduct of the Model Code of Conduct for the guiding of Political Parties and Candidates, criticism of other political parties should only focus on their programmes, records, and current activities.
Parties and candidates are forbidden from criticising any element of a person's private life that is unrelated to their participation in public affairs as leaders or employees of other parties. Disparaging third parties or their employees on the basis of unsubstantiated claims or misrepresentation must be avoided.
WHAT HAS SARMA SAID?
In a video that was sent with the allegation, the ECI claimed to have Sarma saying, "Remember that when one Akbar visits a place, he invites 100 more Akbars. Therefore, get rid of him right away to prevent the defilement of Maa Kaushalya's land."
Sarma continued by saying that the Congress administration was the catalyst for the beginning of the love jihad. "Tribal people in Assam and Chhattisgarh are being incited and encouraged to convert to religion on a daily basis nowadays. The departing chief minister of Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghelji, responds, "We are secular," when someone speaks out against it. Is your secularism based on beating and killing Hindus? This nation is owned and controlled by Hindus. Do not teach us this secularism," Sarma said in Hindi.
The Chief Minister of Assam further stated that "Vijay Bhaiya" must be elected by the people in order to defend the state. Vijay Sharma has been selected by the BJP to face Akbar.
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