Cong to EC: Register FIRs against PM, Shah, Jaitley also

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 13

The Congress on Wednesday night moved the Election Commission demanding equal application of poll rules to the ruling party and opposition leaders and sought immediate withdrawal of FIR, if any, against TV channels that telecast interviews of Congress president-elect Rahul Gandhi.

In a memorandum to Central Election Commissioner and his counterpart in poll-bound Gujarat, Congress leaders said if giving interviews on the poll eve is an election offence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and other BJP leaders should also be equally proceeded against and FIRs should be ordered against all of them for holding press conferences and rallies after the expiry of canvassing period for the first and second phase of Gujarat poll.

Congress leaders Anand Sharma, Randeep Surjewala and Ashok Gehlot moved the EC after the poll body issued notice to Gandhi for violating the model code by way of telecast of his TV interviews today.

Canvassing for the last phase of Gujarat election ended yesterday at 5 pm. 

The Congress, however, argued that after the end of canvassing for first phase of polling in Gujarat, Jaitley addressed press conferences but was not proceeded against for violating the model code of conduct.

“The BJP even went on to release its election manifesto on December 8 on the eve of first phase polling when the campaign for first phase had ended on December 7. The PM addressed four public meetings on the day of polling but EC took no action...in case the yardsticks led violation of model code are to be applied the way these are being applied by the EC, order registration of FIRs against PM, Amit Shah, Arun Jaitley, Piyush Goyal and the state president of BJP,” the memorandum said.

The Congress also argued that no action was taken by the EC against Narendra Modi on the eve of 2014 Lok Sabha polls when he gave TV interviews before polling in more than one phase.

At that time the EC took no action, said the Congress adding that nothing was done even when Modi entered a polling booth and openly displayed the symbol of the BJP there.

The Congress also sought an FIR against the BJP for “casting aspersions on the fairness and conduct of EC even before a decision was taken”.

“BJP leaders Amit Shah and Piyush Goyal have been saying since afternoon that EC will order registration of an FIR. In our humble opinion this decision of the EC goes beyond the code of conduct, past established practices and Article 324 of the Constitution which the EC uses for superintendency of elections. This decision goes against the freedom of speech and expression of the media and the opposition,” the Congress memorandum said.