Refuting the Congress’ allegations of poll code violations against him, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said ‘legitimate criticism’ of a candidate does not amount to communal politics.
His remarks came a day after the Election Commission served a notice to him for violating the model code of conduct based on a Congress complaint that the Assam CM allegedly passed communal remarks and made unverified claims against its candidate, Mohammed Akbar, while addressing a rally in Chhattisgarh.
The Assam Chief Minister, in a social media post, accused the Congress of withholding from the Election Commission ‘that Mohammed Akbar is their candidate from Kawardha Constituency.’
‘Therefore legitimate criticism of a candidate does not amount to communal politics,’ he wrote. ‘Cong will have to face the legal consequence of not revealing this crucial fact in their representation. I have full faith in the collection wisdom of the Hon’ble Election Commission.’
Sarma was responding to a post by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, in which he accused the Assam Chief Minister of being a ‘serial offender’. ‘Yesterday, the Congress party brought to the attention of the Election Commission of India serious electoral malpractices by senior leaders of the party in power. The ECI has observed prima facie the violation of the Model Code of Conduct by the Assam CM for his obnoxious hate speech on 18th of October in Chhattisgarh.’
‘Politicians, especially those holding Constitutional positions, cannot and should not be allowed to get away with such blatant violations of the Model Code of Conduct. It is the only way to stop the poisoning of our public discourse and protect the sanctity of our elections and democracy itself,’ the Congress leader further wrote.
In the controversial speech in question, Sarma had appealed to voters to remove Akbar, saying if one Akbar comes, he brings along 100 others: ‘Ek Akbar agar ek jagah aate hain, voh 100 Akbar ko bula kar laate hain, yeh baat bhoolye mat. Isliye jitna jaldi ho sakta hai, voh Akkar to aap vidaa kijiye, nahi toh ye Ma Kaushalya ka bhoomi apavitra ho jayega.’
Citing provisions against communal speech and making unverified allegations, the ECI said prima facie, the speech had violated the MCC as well as the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
During his speech, Sarma also alleged that ‘love jihad’ started during the Congress rule and Adivasis in Chhattisgarh and Assam were being ‘encouraged’ to convert. He said when this was questioned, the response from the Congress was that they are secular. ‘Hindu ko maarna-thokna kya tumhaara secularism hai [is beating up Hindus, your secularism?].’
In his post, Ramesh said, ‘We hope that the ECI will follow through and take this case to its logical conclusion. Politicians, especially those holding Constitutional positions, cannot and should not be allowed to get away with such blatant violations of the Model Code of Conduct. It is the only way to stop the poisoning of our public discourse and protect the sanctity of our elections and democracy itself.’
The Model Code of Conduct is a set of guidelines issued to regulate political parties and candidates prior to elections. The rules range from issues related to speeches, polling day, polling booths, portfolios, content of election manifestos, processions and general conduct, so that free and fair elections are conducted.
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