New Delhi: The Election Commission has taken action against Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for alleged statements and social media posts targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra received a show-cause notice from the Election Commission based on a complaint lodged by the BJP. The complaint accused her of making unverified and false statements against PM Modi during an election rally in Madhya Pradesh. She has been asked to explain her remarks by Thursday evening, reported PTI.
The BJP alleged that Priyanka Gandhi made baseless claims about the Narendra Modi government privatising public sector undertakings, prompting the Election Commission's action.
Simultaneously, the Election Commission issued a similar show-cause notice to the AAP regarding alleged disparaging remarks made against PM Modi on their social media platform. The notice asked the AAP's national convener to explain the statements and allegations made against the Prime Minister and the political party within a specified time frame.
The BJP had previously approached the Election Commission on November 10, raising concerns about the AAP's social media posts, terming them unacceptable, unethical, and targeting the democratically elected head of the government.
A delegation from the BJP, including Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, party national media in-charge Anil Baluni, and party leader Om Pathak, approached the poll panel to address the issue.
The Election Commission's notice to the AAP emphasised the need for clarification on the alleged social media posts targeting a star campaigner of another national party, raising concerns about ethical violations.
The Election Commission's actions come in the midst of state assembly elections scheduled in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Mizoram. Of these, Mizoram has already conducted its election on November 7, with the other states preparing for the electoral process.