MP barred from campaign for calling CM ‘terrorist’

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Wednesday banned West Delhi Lok Sabha MP and BJP leader Parvesh Verma from holding public meetings, processions, rallies, roadshows and giving interviews for 24 hours after it found him to have violated the Model Code of Conduct with his statement against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in which he called the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader a “terrorist”.

“The commission is of the considered view that Parvesh Sahib Singh made vitriolic aspersions against Arvind Kejriwal, chief minister of Delhi which violate provisions under clause (2) part 1 of the Model Code of Conduct,” read the EC order which came into effect at 6pm Wednesday. Campaign for February 8 Assembly elections in Delhi ends on Thursday evening. “The commission strongly condemns the statement made by Parvesh Sahib Singh. The commission, under Article 324 of the Constitution of India and all other powers enabling it in this behalf, bars Parvesh Sahib Singh from holding any public meetings, public precessions, public rallies, road shows and interviews, public utterances in media (electronic, print and social media) etc. in connection with the ongoing election to the legislative assembly of NCT Delhi, 2020 …,” the order stated. EC issued notice to Verma on January 30, taking cognizance of his statement given to a TV channel against Kejriwal. Wednesday’s order comes even as Verma denied casting “vitriolic aspersions” on Kejriwal.