Amit Shah, the Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary and the man in charge of Narendra Modi's campaign in Uttar Pradesh, was served a notice by the Election Commission on Monday with regard to inflammatory speeches he made in riot-affected areas of the state last week.
As Scroll.in first reported, Shah told a meeting of Jats in Shamli district on April 3, “This election is the election of honour and revenge.” The next day, he made more controversial speeches in Bijnor and Muzaffarnagar, the site of riots in August and September that left 49 people dead.
The Uttar Pradesh police on Sunday registered a case against Shah under section 153 of the Indian Penal Code, which relates to "promoting enmity between different groups", and section 125 of the Representation of The People Act, which deals with "promoting enmity between classes in connection with election".
The Election Commission in its notice to Shah on Monday said that he appeared to have violated several sections of the Model Code of Conduct, including one that prohibits candidates from indulging "in any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic...."
The Commission asked him to explain his version of events by Wednesday evening.
Meanwhile, a website called Newsclick has put up two videos on YouTube of speeches Shah made in Shamli district on April 3.
We welcome your comments at
letters@scroll.in.
As Scroll.in first reported, Shah told a meeting of Jats in Shamli district on April 3, “This election is the election of honour and revenge.” The next day, he made more controversial speeches in Bijnor and Muzaffarnagar, the site of riots in August and September that left 49 people dead.
The Uttar Pradesh police on Sunday registered a case against Shah under section 153 of the Indian Penal Code, which relates to "promoting enmity between different groups", and section 125 of the Representation of The People Act, which deals with "promoting enmity between classes in connection with election".
The Election Commission in its notice to Shah on Monday said that he appeared to have violated several sections of the Model Code of Conduct, including one that prohibits candidates from indulging "in any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic...."
The Commission asked him to explain his version of events by Wednesday evening.
Meanwhile, a website called Newsclick has put up two videos on YouTube of speeches Shah made in Shamli district on April 3.