EC ticks off Punjab ex-CM Charanjit Channi for calling Poonch terror attack a ‘staged stunt’

Chandigarh, May 23

The Election Commission has issued a strict warning to Congress candidate from Jalandhar Lok Sabha constituency and former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjeet Singh Channi for violating the model code of conduct.

During a press conference on May 5, Channi had remarked that the Poonch terror attack on May 4, targeting a convoy of Indian Air Force, was a “staged stunt”.

A spokesperson from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer of Punjab stated that Channi was asked to provide an explanation by the District Election Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner of Jalandhar.

The commission found his response unsatisfactory, deeming it a violation of the clause 2 of ‘Annexure-1, General Conduct, of the Manual on Model Code of Conduct’, which provides: “Criticism of other political parties, when made, shall be confined to their policies and programme, past record and work. Parties and candidates shall refrain from criticism of all aspects of private life, not connected with the public activities of the leaders or workers of other parties.

Criticism of other parties or their workers based on unverified allegations or distortion shall be avoided. The political parties and leaders shall not make false statements, utterances without factual basis aimed at misleading the voters. Criticism of other parties or their workers on the basis of unverified allegations or on distortions shall be avoided.”

The EC has advised and warned Channi against repeating such violations in the future and emphasised the importance of adhering to the MCC guidelines in both letter and spirit.