Don’t seek votes on caste, religious lines: EC to parties

New Delhi, March 1

With Congress leaders feverishly pitching for caste census and Prime Minister Narendra Modi betting big on the Ram Temple ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the Election Commission (EC) has said that no appeal should be made on the basis of caste and communal feelings of electors.

In a set of advisories issued on Friday to the political parties, the election body said no temple, mosque, gurdwara or any other place of worship could be used for election propaganda or electioneering.

“No appeal shall be made on the basis of caste or communal feelings of the electors. No activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes/communities/religious/linguistic groups can be attempted,” the EC said.

“References that ridicule the relations between devotee and deity or suggestions of divine censure shall not be made,” it said. The poll body went on to add that political parties and leaders should not make false statements and utterances aimed at misleading the voters. Also criticism of other parties or their workers on the basis of unverified allegations or on distortions shall be avoided.

The EC has also urged political parties to refrain from personal attacks on leaders of rival groups and desist from indulging in below-the-belt tactics by levelling personal allegations and making objectionable comments. “Low-level personal attacks to insult the rivals shall not be made,” it said.

The political parties and candidates should refrain from any deed, action or utterance that may be construed as being repugnant to the honour and dignity of women, the EC advised further. It also said unverified and misleading advertisements were not to be given in the media.