New Delhi, April 28
The Congress today lodged a complaint with the Election Commission on a full page advertisement in a Urdu daily in which Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had made promises in violation of the model code of conduct.
“The advertisement carries the promises of caretaker Prime Minister in a blatant and repulsive breach of model code of conduct, which none is allowed to do,” the letter sent by AICC general secretary Oscar Fernandes said.
It said the advertisement appealed to Muslims to vote for the BJP, since the Prime Minister of the NDA and the BJP had taken care of them depicting the national and international developments between India and neighbouring countries.
The
advertisement, it said, was in violation of the Representation of Peoples Act, model code of conduct and the guidelines issued by the EC through “misleading,
misguiding, false and lucrative promises to exploit and influence the sentiments of a section of voters, amounting to illegal
gratification, bribery and corrupt practice which is against the spirit of democracy and free and fair elections.”
“Thus the caretaker Prime Minister himself has undermined a free, fair and clear election which can be achieved only by ensuring the highest degree of morality and purity during the campaign,” Mr Fernandes said.
Requesting the Commission to examine the facts and issue directions to stop the advertisements forthwith, he demanded that a show cause notice be issued to BJP and the persons involved in it and “appropriate” action against them.
