EC issues notice to Suvendu for an alleged communal jibe- Both Mamata and Adhikari have been accused of violating Model Code of Conduct

Election Commission is yet to respond to a query from The Telegraph on why Adhikari was not additionally accused of flouting Clause 4 of Part I of Model Code of Conduct

Suvendu Adhikari: File picture

Pheroze L. Vincent   |  TT  |  New Delhi   |  09.04.21: The Election Commission on Thursday served a showcause on BJP’s Nandigram candidate Suvendu Adhikari for an alleged communal jibe in his election speech last month when he had said a vote to his rival would lead to a “mini Pakistan”.

The commission had sent a showcause to Adhikari’s rival and chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday for asking minorities not to divide their votes.

Both Mamata and Adhikari have been accused of violating Clauses 2 and 3 of Part I of the Model Code of Conduct that prohibit unverified allegations against candidates and communal appeal for votes. 

The EC is yet to respond to a query from The Telegraph on why Adhikari was not additionally accused of flouting Clause 4 of Part I of the MCC that covers intimidation as well as Sections 123(3) and 3(A) of Representation of the People Act, 1951, which deal with communal appeal for votes and incitement of hatred between communities. 

In the showcause to Mamata, she was accused of flouting these sections, too.

MCC violations are punished by the EC with curbs on campaigning. Violations of the act can result in an FIR. 

Adhikari was asked to reply to the showcause within 24 hours. The EC issued the notice on a complaint lodged by CPIML (Liberation) politburo member Kavita Krishnan on March 31.

The excerpt from Adhikari’s speech in Nandigram on March 29 cited by the EC in its notice to him says: “On the one hand, Begum is competing against us… You are not giving votes to Begum. If you vote for Begum there will be mini Pakistan. (Barely audible)… A Daud Ibrahim has come up in your locality.”

He added: “With which flower did Ramachandra worship Maa Durga? All of you should, therefore, vote for lotus.”

In her complaint, Kavita had referred to speeches of Adhikari on March 7 and 29. Krishnan quoted him say on March 7: “You are the ‘phuphu’ (the word for paternal aunt used by Muslims) of infiltrators and the ‘khala’ (the word for maternal aunt used primarily by Muslims) of the Rohingya.”

Kavita told The Telegraph on Thursday: “The EC has not taken cognisance of the March 7 speech that is extremely communal.”

Adhikari was showcaused after the EC had been accused of duplicity. While Mamata was served the notice for her speech in Tarakeshwar on April 3, Adhikari’s address that invited the EC’s showcause had been given on March 29.

Besides, the CPIML (Liberation) leader had lodged the complaint with the EC against Adhikari on March 31. The commission served the showcause on Mamata on a complaint lodged by the BJP on Monday.