M A I N   N E W S

EC slaps ban on Giriraj for hate speech
* Says BJP leader can’t address rallies in Bihar, Jharkhand
* Cong releases hate videos
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 22
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday banned BJP leader Gririraj Singh, caught in a hate-speech row, from addressing rallies in Bihar and Jharkhand. The ECI also asked the two states to speed up investigations into cases lodged against him.

Giriraj Singh, who is contesting from Bihar’s Nawada Lok Sabha segment, at an election rally in Jharkhand had said that “people opposing BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi would have to live in Pakistan and there is no place for them in India.”

The poll panel order came on a day when the Congress stepped up its attack on the saffron party and released video clips of alleged hate speeches of several BJP, Sangh Parivar and Shiv Sena leaders. Urging the ECI to order arrest of “hate-mongers”, the Congress claimed the BJP and its allies were polarising the Lok Sabha elections under a “concerted conspiracy and agenda”.

"In their blind lust for power, Modi, the BJP and the Sangh Parivar are carrying out a concerted campaign to divide the country on communal lines," said Surjewala.

The clippings released by the Congress include Modi’s interview where “he equated Muslims killed in the 2002 riots to puppies”, Amit Shah’s alleged hate speech in Muzaffarnagar and Bihar BJP leader Giriraj’s statement that “anti-Modi people will have no place in India.” Another footage shows Sena leader Kadam allegedly abusing Muslims. The Congress also displayed images of the pamphlets allegedly distributed by the RSS asking Hindus to vote tactically in BJP’s favour.

In its letter to Bihar and Jharkhand Chief Secretaries, the ECI said: “No permission should be granted to public meetings, public processions, public rallies and road shows in Bihar and Jharkhand where Giriraj Singh is expected to participate.”

“The utterance that voters who do not vote for Modi shall have to find their place in Pakistan is totally violative of the principles of the Indian Constitution”, the EC order said. The EC termed the speech as “highly inflammatory” and one aimed at promoting “feelings of enmity, hatred and ill-will and create disharmony between different communities”.

“All preventive measures shall be taken against Giriraj Singh under the relevant provisions of Sections 107 to 110 and 144 of the CrPC,” said the poll panel directive. The commission separately issued a show cause notice to Giriraj Singh as to why action should not be taken against him for violating the model code.

What Giriraj said

People opposing BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi would have to live in Pakistan and there is no place for them in India.

Poll panel’s stand

• The utterance that voters who do not vote for Modi shall have to find their place in Pakistan is totally violative of the principles of the Indian Constitution, said the ECI
• The poll panel termed the speech as “highly inflammatory” and one aimed at promoting “feelings of enmity, hatred and ill-will and create disharmony between different communities”

BJP, allies polarising elections: Cong

"In their blind lust for power, Modi, the BJP and the Sangh Parivar are carrying out a concerted campaign to divide the country on communal lines."

Randeep Surjewala, Congress spokesperson