Senior Vadodara-based social activists Rohit Prajapati and Trupti Shah have asked VS Sampath, chief election commissioner of India, to initiate contempt proceedings and additional actions against Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, who “mocked” the Election Commission's action of registering FIRs against him for violating the model code of conduct and the Representation of People’s Act, 1951 by making a public speech on April 30 in Ahmedabad, when Gujarat went on Lok Sabha polls. Prajapati heads environmental body Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti, and Shah runs Sahiyar, a women’s group.
In a faxed message sent to Sampath on May 1, the activists said, “Following the FIRs filed against Modi for violation of the Representation of People’s Act, 1951 after he cast his vote in Ahmedabad, instead of admitting his lapse, he chose to be blaze and made mockery of the Election Commission of India and law of the land while addressing a public rally on April 30 evening at Tirupati of Andhra Pradesh” (click HERE to read).
The activists quoted Modi at the Tirupati rally as saying, “To date in my entire life, not even a single FIR was registered against me, not even for wrong-side scooter driving, and not even for wrong parking. Suddenly today when I landed here I came to know that an FIR has been registered against me...I will never forget April 30. One can understand if someone points (threatens with) a knife, a pistol or a gun (and FIR is registered). But do you know why FIR was registered against me? Because I showed a lotus to the people.”
“Modi is defending his illegal act openly by making mockery of the serious violation and trying to make it an election issue”, the activists said, adding, “This clearly proves that Modi’s act on 30 April 2014 was deliberate and he violated knowingly and also his proclivity to undermine the law and the Constitution of India, especially when the country is voting in stages, for unfair, illegal electoral gains.” Modi addressed newspersons, even criticized his political opponents, after voting in Maninagar in Ahmedabad. The EC was particularly irked by his display of lotus, the BJP’s poll symbol.
“We have already sent you a complaint dated April 30, 2014 with the demand to initiate exemplary action against Modi – PM candidate of BJP for the violation of the model code of conduct of the Election Commission of India in Ahmedabad, Gujarat after casting his vote on April 30, 2014 by cancelling his candidature from Varanasi and Vadodara in addition to action under Section 126(2) of the Representation of People’s Act, 1951'', the activists said.
“Further, keeping in mind Modi and his defense on illegal act, we urge the Election Commission of India to take exemplary action against him and his party, more so as he aspires to the country's prime minister while flouting constitutional norms. This will repose faith of Indian citizens in the Election Commission in its ability to hold free and fair elections, without being brow beaten by anyone”, the activists insist.
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