New Delhi/Bangalore, April 11 (IANS) The Election Commission Thursday admonished Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for calling BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi a "mass murderer" and advised him to be extremely careful in future.
"The use of words 'mass murderer' for Narendra Modi is a violation of the Model Code of Conduct," the poll panel said in an order, rejecting the explanation by Siddaramaiah on using such language in his election speeches.
Though Siddaramaiah explained that his words were in reference to the Gujarat government policy in handling the riots in February 2002 and that Modi was responsible for his government's actions, the poll panel rejected his contention and termed the use of words "mass murderer" unacceptable.
"Your explanation relating to the use of the word against the leader of a major political party has not been accepted, as that explanation has been specifically used to criticise Narendra Modi personally and not by way of criticising his government policies," the order said.
Campaigning at Mysore, about 150km from here, March 23, Siddaramaiah said in his speech that Modi was a "narahantaka (a mass murderer)" in response to the catch phrase "har har Modi" used by BJP's cadres in Varanasi after the Gujarat chief minister decided to contest from the Hindu holy city.
Noting that the derogatory words were prima facie a violation of the poll code, the poll panel said no party or candidate should indulge in any activity which may aggravate differences or create hatred or cause tension.
The poll panel's notice and order came after the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) state unit complained to the state chief electoral officer A.K. Jha against the chief minister, who repeated the derogatory words in election speeches he delivered at public rallies in presence of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi Monday in Bangalore.
IND vs AFG Head to Head: Afghanistan is counted among those teams, which have the power to surpri
The village of pro-democracy monks was set ablaze by the Myanmar army last year in 2021. This is
Report: By 2030, 2.35 crore people of the country will join gig work for a living, claims NITI Aayog
According to a report released by NITI Aayog, by the year 2029-30, about 2.35 crore will be conne
World Population Day 2022: Today is World Population Day, on this occasion the population fortnig
India, Lanka have deep, abiding relationship: Sirisena
New Delhi, Feb 9 (IANS) Appreciating President Pranab Muk
Suspicious parcels have been found in several Ukrainian embassies located in countries in Europe.
Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna's starrer 'Dhurandhar' is continuously receiving praise. The fil
Explained: Reading The Coronavirus Containment Plan
पिछले कुछ दिनों में, राष्ट्रीय राजधा
For the first time after the clash with China in Tawang, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh is going
No support from AIUDF, AAMSU is required for redesigning district boundaries: Assam CM
There has been a continuous protest by political parties and organizations against the Assam gove