Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: The Election Commission on Sunday issued a notice to Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal for his alleged remark that "those who vote for Congress, BJP will commit treachery against God and country".
The AAP convener during a road show in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, which is scheduled for voting tomorrow, had reportedly said that voting for the Bharatiya Janata Party or Congress is akin to betraying God and the nation.
"....The Commission is, prima facie, of the opinion that by making the....Statements you have violated the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct," the notice said, PTI reported.
The Commission reminded Kejriwal of the provisions of the Model Code that there shall be no appeal to caste or communal feelings for securing votes and all political parties and candidates shall avoid scrupulously all activities which are `corrupt practices and offences under the election law.
It also reminded the former Delhi Chief Minister about section 171 C of lndian Penal Code dealing with any direct or indirect interference or attempt to interfere by any person with the free exercise of any electoral right.
On Friday, Kejriwal held a road show in the temple town of Uttar Pradesh and took a jibe at BJP`s Prime Misterial candidate Narendra Modi`s `helicopter` visit in Varanasi.
Modi had visited the city a day ahed of Kejriwal`s road show.
During his visit, the ex-Delhi CM said that he was confident of his victory with a `huge majority` and accused BJP of trying every tactic including communal and caste politics, as well as `violence and bribing media`.
The AAP leader, who is pitted against Modi from Varanasi parliamentary constituency, said "people in Varanasi say how will a person who comes in a helicopter for only two hours to campaign, serve us".
BJP had demanded strict action against Kejriwal for allegedly trying to influence the religious feelings of voters.
In its complaint with the Election Commission, Vivek Goyal, national co-convener of BJP legal cell, had lodged a complain against Kejriwal.
Goyal had referred to the AAP leader`s reported remarks that "voting for BJP would amount to betraying God", and accused him of trying to influence the religious feelings of voters.
"According to Section 123(2)(a)(ii) of Representation of People`s Act, issuing statements to influence religious feelings of voters is a punishable offence. In view of imminent defeat of AAP candidate in Amethi, Kejriwal tried to influence the religious feelings of the voters which is immoral and also an offence according to law," Goyal said in the complaint.
However, Delhi BJP president Harsh Vardhan said that AAP is out of the contest in the Lok Sabha polls.
Nearly 16 lakh voters will decide tomorrow the most high-profile contest of the ongoing Lok Sabha polls.
AAP has pitted Arvind Kejriwal against BJP`s Narendra Modi and Congress` Ajay Rai.
With agency inputs
