SC Turned Down To Consider Mayawati’s Plea Against EC For Pan India Campaigning Ban
Mumbai: On Tuesday, the Supreme Court (SC) refused the plea of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati EC’s order for a ban on campaigning for 48 hours for making hate speeches against leaders.
Being bench head, Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi asked Mayawati’s counsel to file a distinguish file against the poll order.
The court said on EC action that it seems it had “woken up” and put a halt for various politicians for campaigning for several hours.
A bench containing Justice Sanjiv Khanna said that for now, no further order is required.
On Monday, the Election commission banned several politicians, such as UP CM Adityanath for the nationwide campaign for 72 hours, Maneka Gandhi (Union Minister) and BSP leader Mayawati from Tuesday for their comments on community which had the tendency to separate the elections.
72-hour campaign ban is also fielded for Samajwadi Party leader, Azam Khan for his remarks on ‘Khaki underwear’ against actor-turned-politician Jaya Prada who is contesting from Rampur constituency.
APIL filed by an NRI Yoga teacher based in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was heard by the bench which urges EC to instigate strict action against political parties if condemn against caste and religion in media for general elections.
From 6 am on Tuesday, all India ban came in force on all 4 leaders i.e 2 from ruling BJP and 2 from the oppositions.
For violating the model code, Aditynath, Mayawati and Gandhi were found guilty whereas Azam Khan contravenes only the poll code.
For the first time, a pan India is fielded on politicians without partiality between a chief and union minister.
An allegation was put front by Mayawati as the order is been imposed ‘under pressure’ and she said that this day will be remembered as ‘black day’ in the EC’s history.
Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav who is in alliance with Mayawati’s BSP had asked EC whether the same will be imposed on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for seeking a vote in name of Army.
The EC action came after when SC termed EC as a watchdog for politicians who remark hate and communal speeches in ahead of general elections.
The counsel of EC had said, “The power of EC is limited. We cannot de-recognise a candidate or a party, we can only issue notice and seek a reply. We power only to issue advisories or can register complaint only in the case of repeated offence”.
The bench sharply reacting said, “Basically, you are saying, you are toothless and powerless countering hate speeches”.
It had then said besides sending notices, complaints can be registered for such politicians.
On April 8, the Supreme court had issued a notice to the centre and the PIL urging for direction to take “strict actions” against political parties if making hate speeches against community or caste and religion in media, ahead of general elections.
