EC pulls up BJP for violating code of conduct
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Nov 22 — In a minor setback to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Election Commission today ruled a BJP election advertisement published in newspapers was a "violation of the model code of conduct".

The Election Commission Secretary, Mr K.J. Rao, in a letter to the BJP said the commission had arrived at a "unanimous view" after a careful study of the advertisement. The EC action follows a Congress complaint that the BJP advertisement was a clear violation of the model code of conduct.

The Congress took strong objection to a BJP advertisement published in some newspapers saying that it was a "serious violation" of the model code of conduct and reflected the "state of panic and frustration of the BJP".

A Congress delegation led by former Lok Sabha Speaker Shivraj Patil submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission against the BJP advertisement.

Mr Patil while talking to newspersons later, said the BJP had issued statements in the past few days which were "baseless, false, misleading and were couched in scurrilous, abusive and unparliamentary language".

"The timing of the advertisement and the malicious nature of the statements shows the true colours of the BJP which is willing to stoop to any level knowing fully well it is facing a rout in the coming Assembly elections", Mr Patil said stressing that such moves would only "weaken democracy".

Mr Patil said the BJP was raking up issues such as the Emergency which were "irrelevant" in the present context. Inflation and bad governance were the main issues today, he pointed out.

When asked to clarify the Congress stand on the Emergency, Mr Patil said, "We have not justified it. We are a democratic party and we honour and respect the people’s mandate". He took strong exception to Union Home Minister L.K. Advani’s "clean chit" to some of his party members in the Romesh Sharma case. He said Mr Advani’s direction to the investigating agency to proceed in the case in such a prejudiced manner was nothing but an election trick.

At the same time, senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee also criticised the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, for stating that the Congress would impose the Emergency again if it came to power.

Mr Mukherjee said: "Where is the question of imposing the Emergency when Mr Vajpayee is still the Prime Minister. Elections are being held for the Assemblies in four states and not for the Lok Sabha. Does he think he will lose majority after these elections?"

On the BJP’s charge against the Congress of having mismanaged the country’s economy, Mr Mukherjee said every macroeconomic indicator for the past six months showed the performance of the BJP government was worse than that of the United Front government. The exports had registered a negative 3 per cent growth compared to 20 per cent growth during the Congress regime and the industrial growth was negligible, he pointed out.

The BJP advertisement had said: "To be fair, there will be some who are looking forward to the Congress in this election — Sushil and Romesh Sharma (Jail), Dawood Ibrahim (Karachi), Mast Gul (Kabul), Quattrochi (Italy), ISI (Islamabad). The country is still paying a price for their exploits. Just when they are on the run, will you usher in their mentors back to power".

The model code of conduct, adopted by all political parties of the country, restrains them and the candidates from criticising any aspect of political life not connected with the public activities of leaders or workers of other parties. It also prescribes avoiding criticism of other parties and workers based on allegations or distortions.