ID :
55186
Mon, 04/13/2009 - 17:29
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/55186
The shortlink copeid
India`s EC upset over `toxicity` in poll campaign
New Delhi, Apr 13 (PTI) India's Election Commission has
expressed deep anguish over the "toxicity" seeping into the
electoral campaign and asked all political parties and their
leaders to observe the model code in letter and spirit.
Coming in the backdrop of several instances of hate
speeches and offering of cash to voters, the Commission sent a
detailed letter to all recognised political parties late
Sunday evening and asked them to follow the "sage advice"
given by the Supreme Court.
"In conducting the electoral campaign, set high
standards of electoral morality so as to ensure the integrity
and purity of elections," the Commission said in its advisory.
Observing that the campaigning for the five-phased
elections was gathering momentum and would soon reach a
crescendo, the panel said it was pained to observe that many
important leaders of political parties at the national and
state levels were, in their election speeches at public
meetings and rallies, making "intemperate and derogatory
remarks."
They were "attacking the personal character or personal
conduct of leaders and candidates of rival parties, or making
highly provocative and inflammatory statements that have the
effect of inciting communal hatred, disharmony or ill-will,
and aggravating the differences between different classes of
citizens on grounds of religion, caste and community."
"The open distribution of money, justified in the name
of local customs, is also most deplorable. Not merely does
this violate the Model Code of Conduct, but also amounts to
the electoral offence of bribery under section 171 B of the
Indian Penal Code and is also a corrupt practice under section
123 (1) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
"In fact, these violations of the Model Code of
Conduct and, in several instances, the law of the land seem
to be turning into something of a trend, which if unchecked,
is bound to seriously damage the election process and set a
deplorable precedent for future elections," the EC cautioned.
The Commission said the code has made it clear no
party or candidate shall indulge in any activity which may
aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or
cause tension between different castes and communities,
religious or linguistic.
"The model code also says that 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," the advisory said.
Criticism of other parties or their workers based on
unverified allegations should be avoided, it noted.
"There shall be no appeal to caste or communal feelings
for securing votes," the Commission said.
The panel made it clear that mosques, churches, temples
or other places of worship shall not be used as forum for
election propaganda.
"All parties and candidates shall avoid scrupulously
all activities which are corrupt practices and offences under
the election law, such as bribing of voters, intimidation of
voters, impersonation of voters, canvassing within 100 metres
of polling stations, holding public meetings during the period
of 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for the close of the
poll, and the transport of voters to and from polling
station," it said.
"With each passing day, the Commission is being
flooded with complaints of violation of the provisions of the
Model Code of Conduct and commission of electoral offences and
corrupt practices under the law, particularly by important
leaders and office bearers of political parties. These
complaints are also receiving wide coverage in the broadcast
and print media across the land," the EC said.
The Commission observed that the duty at the top
echelons of leadership at the state and national level of all
political parties was to set the trend for giving the needed
information to the electorate by adopting desirable standards
so that it percolates to the lower levels and provides a
congenial atmosphere for a free and fair poll.
It said, "A contrary trend of speeches by the top
leaders tends to degenerate the election campaign as it
descends to the lower levels and at times promotes even
violence leading to criminalisation of politics.
"The growth of this unhealthy trend is a cause for
serious concern for the proper functioning of the democracy
and it is the duty of the top leaders of all political parties
to reverse this trend to enable movement of the functioning
democracy in the proper direction," it said. PTI
expressed deep anguish over the "toxicity" seeping into the
electoral campaign and asked all political parties and their
leaders to observe the model code in letter and spirit.
Coming in the backdrop of several instances of hate
speeches and offering of cash to voters, the Commission sent a
detailed letter to all recognised political parties late
Sunday evening and asked them to follow the "sage advice"
given by the Supreme Court.
"In conducting the electoral campaign, set high
standards of electoral morality so as to ensure the integrity
and purity of elections," the Commission said in its advisory.
Observing that the campaigning for the five-phased
elections was gathering momentum and would soon reach a
crescendo, the panel said it was pained to observe that many
important leaders of political parties at the national and
state levels were, in their election speeches at public
meetings and rallies, making "intemperate and derogatory
remarks."
They were "attacking the personal character or personal
conduct of leaders and candidates of rival parties, or making
highly provocative and inflammatory statements that have the
effect of inciting communal hatred, disharmony or ill-will,
and aggravating the differences between different classes of
citizens on grounds of religion, caste and community."
"The open distribution of money, justified in the name
of local customs, is also most deplorable. Not merely does
this violate the Model Code of Conduct, but also amounts to
the electoral offence of bribery under section 171 B of the
Indian Penal Code and is also a corrupt practice under section
123 (1) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
"In fact, these violations of the Model Code of
Conduct and, in several instances, the law of the land seem
to be turning into something of a trend, which if unchecked,
is bound to seriously damage the election process and set a
deplorable precedent for future elections," the EC cautioned.
The Commission said the code has made it clear no
party or candidate shall indulge in any activity which may
aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or
cause tension between different castes and communities,
religious or linguistic.
"The model code also says that 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," the advisory said.
Criticism of other parties or their workers based on
unverified allegations should be avoided, it noted.
"There shall be no appeal to caste or communal feelings
for securing votes," the Commission said.
The panel made it clear that mosques, churches, temples
or other places of worship shall not be used as forum for
election propaganda.
"All parties and candidates shall avoid scrupulously
all activities which are corrupt practices and offences under
the election law, such as bribing of voters, intimidation of
voters, impersonation of voters, canvassing within 100 metres
of polling stations, holding public meetings during the period
of 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for the close of the
poll, and the transport of voters to and from polling
station," it said.
"With each passing day, the Commission is being
flooded with complaints of violation of the provisions of the
Model Code of Conduct and commission of electoral offences and
corrupt practices under the law, particularly by important
leaders and office bearers of political parties. These
complaints are also receiving wide coverage in the broadcast
and print media across the land," the EC said.
The Commission observed that the duty at the top
echelons of leadership at the state and national level of all
political parties was to set the trend for giving the needed
information to the electorate by adopting desirable standards
so that it percolates to the lower levels and provides a
congenial atmosphere for a free and fair poll.
It said, "A contrary trend of speeches by the top
leaders tends to degenerate the election campaign as it
descends to the lower levels and at times promotes even
violence leading to criminalisation of politics.
"The growth of this unhealthy trend is a cause for
serious concern for the proper functioning of the democracy
and it is the duty of the top leaders of all political parties
to reverse this trend to enable movement of the functioning
democracy in the proper direction," it said. PTI