Shri Nilotpal Basu, member of the Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), has written to the Chief Election Commissioner, Election Commission of India regarding certain brazen violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by the Prime Minister, Shri. Narendra Modi and by the Cabinet Minister of Assam, Shri. Himanta Biswas Sharma. We are releasing the text of the letter for publication.
(Hari Singh Kang)
For CPI(M) Central Committee office
Dear Shri. Arora ji,
With deep anguish we are drawing your attention to the latest violation of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by the Prime Minister, Shri. Narendra Modi. He is also violating the specific direction of the Election Commission to refrain from invoking the armed forces for seeking votes.
Today, 9th April, he has asked first time voters to dedicate their votes to those who carried out the air strike in Balakot. He stated:”Can your first vote be dedicated to those who carried out the airstrike?”, while appealing to first time voters at a poll rally in Lathur in Maharashtra. We are appending herewith media reports to this effect.
We also draw your attention to the brazenly provocative statement of the cabinet minister of Assam, Himanta Bishwas Sharma who has in his election campaign asserted that they did not need votes from those wearing ‘dhothis and lungis’, alluding to linguistic and religious minorities in the state. The situation in Assam is quite vulnerable. A custodial death took place in the Goalpara detention camp run by the state government. The detention camps for so called doubtful voters were to be dismantled as per BJP’s electoral commitments. However, not only has this assurance not implemented, but new camps have come up notwithstanding the process of Supreme Court monitored up-gradation of National Register of Citizens.
We have in the past brought such blatant violations of the BJP and its leadership to your notice. However, the Commission, in its wisdom, has not dealt with such acts with any firmness. Reportedly, Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh was treated ‘lightly’ for his obnoxious reference to “Modi Ka Sena”.
We urge you to strongly initiate appropriate action to stop the pre-election atmosphere from being vitiated which is fast degenerating towards polarization based on identity and assertion of national symbol for partisan electoral interests.
Thanking you,
With regards,
Yours sincerely,
Nilotpal Basu
Member, Polit Bureau