Social activists protest against "violation" of model code of conduct by Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad

By A Representative
It is not just political parties who strongly protested against Gujarat chief minister for allegedly violating the model code of conduct. Top environmentalist and social activist from Vadodara, Rohit Prajapati, has asked VS Sampath, chief election commissioner, India, to “initiate exemplary action against Narendra Modi, the Prime Ministerial candidate of the BJP for “violation” of the model code of conduct of the Election Commission of India in Ahmedabad after casting his vote on April 30, 2014.
Co-signed by another social activist Trupti Shah, a women’s activist, the letter said, the violation called for cancellation of “Modi’s candidature from Varanasi and Vadodara in addition to action under Section 126(2) of the Representation of People’s Act, 1951”. Prajapati represents Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti, and Shah Sahiyar. Both Prajapati and Shah belong to Vadodara, from where Modi is fighting Lok Sabha polls. The letter believes that filing FIR against Modi is too soft a step, the commission should act hard.
Calling the evidence “undisputed”, the activists said, Modi “deliberately violated the model code of conduct “after casting his vote” by addressing “the people present there and to others across Gujarat and India on polling day via mass media holding the symbol of BJP lotus in his hand, delivering an election speech”. Saying that it “demonstrates the impunity with which he flouts rules and utter disregard for constitutional values”, they added, “The act was telecasted live through television channels, which is an irreversible act affecting the free and fair election.”
“We came to know through your website that a letter dated April 30, 2014 has been sent to the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police of Gujarat State for some action. While the Election Commission of India has already initiated action we believe more needs to be done to set an example”, the activists said.
“Modi has violated the section 126 (1) The Representation of People’s Act, 1951 (126. Prohibition of public meetings during period of forty-eight hours ending with hour fixed for conclusion of poll (1) No person shall - (a) convene, hold, attend, join or address any public meeting or procession in connection with an election; or (b) display to the public any election matter by means of cinematograph, "television or other similar apparatus; … in any polling area during the period of forty-eight hours ending with the hour fixed for the conclusion of the poll for any election in that polling area.)”, the activists said.
They point out that section 126 (2) clearly states that “any person who contravenes the provisions of sub-section (1) shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with fine, or with both. (3) In this section, the expression "election matter" means any matter intended or calculated to influence or affect the result of an election.” They added, “We strongly feel that to repose faith in Election Commission of India's fairness following action should be taken against Modi.”
The activists underscored:
"(1) The Act of Modi is serious in nature, had done irreversible damage to free and fair election that is why his candidature from both Vadodara and Varanasi constituencies should be cancelled; and
"(2) Modi should be prosecuted as per section 126(2) of The Representation of People’s Act, 1951."

Comments

Gujarat Information Commission issues warning against misinterpretation of RTI orders

By A Representative The Gujarat Information Commission (GIC) has issued a press note clarifying that its orders limiting the number of Right to Information (RTI) applications for certain individuals apply only to those specific applicants. The GIC has warned that it will take disciplinary action against any public officials who misinterpret these orders to deny information to other citizens. The press note, signed by GIC Secretary Jaideep Dwivedi, states that the Right to Information Act, 2005, is a powerful tool for promoting transparency and accountability in public administration. However, the commission has observed that some applicants are misusing the act by filing an excessive number of applications, which disproportionately consumes the time and resources of Public Information Officers (PIOs), First Appellate Authorities (FAAs), and the commission itself. This misuse can cause delays for genuine applicants seeking justice. In response to this issue, and in acc...

A comrade in culture and controversy: Yao Wenyuan’s revolutionary legacy

By Harsh Thakor* This year marks two important anniversaries in Chinese revolutionary history—the 20th death anniversary of Yao Wenyuan, and the 50th anniversary of his seminal essay "On the Social Basis of the Lin Biao Anti-Party Clique". These milestones invite reflection on the man whose pen ignited the first sparks of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and whose sharp ideological interventions left an indelible imprint on the political and cultural landscape of socialist China.

'MGNREGA crisis deepening': NSM demands fair wages and end to digital exclusions

By A Representative The NREGA Sangharsh Morcha (NSM), a coalition of independent unions of MGNREGA workers, has warned that the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is facing a “severe crisis” due to persistent neglect and restrictive measures imposed by the Union Government.

Gandhiji quoted as saying his anti-untouchability view has little space for inter-dining with "lower" castes

By A Representative A senior activist close to Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) leader Medha Patkar has defended top Booker prize winning novelist Arundhati Roy’s controversial utterance on Gandhiji that “his doctrine of nonviolence was based on an acceptance of the most brutal social hierarchy the world has ever known, the caste system.” Surprised at the police seeking video footage and transcript of Roy’s Mahatma Ayyankali memorial lecture at the Kerala University on July 17, Nandini K Oza in a recent blog quotes from available sources to “prove” that Gandhiji indeed believed in “removal of untouchability within the caste system.”

Targeted eviction of Bengali-speaking Muslims across Assam districts alleged

By A Representative A delegation led by prominent academic and civil rights leader Sandeep Pandey visited three districts in Assam—Goalpara, Dhubri, and Lakhimpur—between 2 and 4 September 2025 to meet families affected by recent demolitions and evictions. The delegation reported widespread displacement of Bengali-speaking Muslim communities, many of whom possess valid citizenship documents including Aadhaar, voter ID, ration cards, PAN cards, and NRC certification.

'Centre criminally negligent': SKM demands national disaster declaration in flood-hit states

By A Representative The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has urged the Centre to immediately declare the recent floods and landslides in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Haryana as a national disaster, warning that the delay in doing so has deepened the suffering of the affected population.

Saffron Kingdom – a cinematic counter-narrative to The Kashmir Files

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* “Saffron Kingdom” is a film produced in the United States by members of the Kashmiri diaspora, positioned as a response to the 2022 release “The Kashmir Files.” While the latter focused on the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits and framed Kashmiri Muslims as perpetrators of violence, “Saffron Kingdom” seeks to present an alternate perspective—highlighting the experiences of Kashmiri Muslims facing alleged abuses by Indian security forces.

From lazy to lost? The myths and realities behind generational panic about youth

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak Older generations in many societies often describe the young with labels such as “lazy, unproductive, lost, anxious, depoliticised, unpatriotic or wayward.” Others see them as “social media, mobile phone and porn addicts.” Such judgments arise from a generational anxiety rooted in fears of losing control and from distorted perceptions about youth, especially in the context of economic crises, conflicts, and wars in which many young lives are lost.

'Govts must walk the talk on gender equality, right to health, human rights to deliver SDGs by 2030'

By A Representative With just 64 months left to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), global health and rights advocates have called upon governments to honour their commitments on gender equality and the human right to health. Speaking ahead of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), experts warned that rising anti-rights and anti-gender pushes are threatening hard-won progress on SDG-3 (health and wellbeing) and SDG-5 (gender equality).

Counterview

Search This Blog