EC bars Himachal BJP chief Satpal Satti from campaigning for 48 hours

Tribune News Service
Shimla, April 19

The Election Commission of India on Friday temporarily banned state Bharatiya Janata Party’s Himachal president Satpal Singh Satti from campaigning for his controversial remarks at a recent election rally.

The commission exercised powers under Article 324 of the Indian Constitution to ban Satti for 48 hours starting 10 am on Saturday for using an abusive slur while referring to Congress president Rahul Gandhi at a rally in Nalagrah’s Ramashehar last Saturday.

Satti is the fourth leader in the country to face such a ban and the first in the state. The ban means he cannot hold public meetings, rallies, roadshows, or even given interviews.

The development comes days after an FIR was registered against him for his remarks. Congress has been holding protests across the state to demand action against the BJP leader.

In his second reply to EC’s notice on Friday, the leader has dismissed Congress party’s allegations.  

Although Satti has remained defiant by refusing to apologise, he was believed to have been told off by the BJP and its mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.