EC bans Sin ha at campaigns, notice to Ghosh, rap to Adhikari

The election commission (EC) on Tuesday issued a notice to West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Dilip Ghosh for his alleged remarks that there would be “Sitalkuchi in several places”, a reference to the killing of four people in firing by CISF during poll violence in Coochbehar district, saying his statements were provocative and could lead to a breakdown of law and order, but let off BJP candidate from Nandigram Suvendu Adhikari with a light rap for his “mini-Pakistan” remark made at a public meeting last month.

The EC also barred BJP leader Rahul Sinha from campaigning for 48 hours for his alleged remarks at a rally that central forces should have killed eight rather than four people in Sitalkuchi, saying his remarks “mocked human life and were highly provocative”.

The Election Commission on Tuesday barred BJP leader Rahul Sinha from campaigning for 48 hours and slapped a notice on its West Bengal chief Dilip Ghosh over their “provocative” remarks on the killing of four people in firing by CISF during poll violence in Sitalkuchi, saying such statements could have a serious impact on law and order.

Strongly condemning Sinha’s reported remarks that central forces “should have killed eight rather than four people”, the EC said he made “highly provocative statements mocking human life and inciting the forces that could have serious law and order implications”. The Commission said it found the remarks of the leaders violative of the model code and various provisions of the Representation of the People Act and the Indian Penal Code.

The high-octane assembly election campaign in the state, where the BJP and the Trinamool Congress have unleashed a no-holds-barred attack against each other, has seen the EC clamping down on leaders of both parties for their objectionable utterances.

On Monday, the poll panel barred West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee from campaigning for 24 hours for her remarks against central forces and a statement that allegedly had religious overtones.

The EC, in another order, has let off BJP candidate from Nandigram Suvendu Adhikari with a light rap for his remarks that “if people vote for Begum there will be mini Pakistan”.

“Now, therefore, the Commission hereby warns Shri Suvendu Adhikari and advises him to desist from using such statement while making public utterances during the period when Model Code of Conduct is in force,” the order issued on Monday night said. Adhikari is pitted against Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram where polls were held earlier this month.

The EC took suo motu cognisance of Rahul Sinha’s remarks and said it decided to issue the order without giving any notice to him due to the urgency of the matter. After the TMC approached the Commission against Ghosh over his reported remarks that there would be “Sitalkuchi in several places”, the EC asked him to respond to its notice making his stand clear on the issue by 10 am on Wednesday.