The Congress party on Monday claimed victory for the Election Commission’s (EC) temporary ban on campaigning by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) provisions on hate speech.

The party also said it was confident that the poll panel would apply the same principle to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah against whom the Congress had officially complained last Tuesday (April 9).

Addressing a press conference, party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said a prospective ban instead of retrospective censure has been enforced for the first time in the past seven decades.

“They [EC] have not used this form and manner in the past 72 years of Indian independence. And it is a proud moment that they [EC] have accepted it and applied it on my recommendation,” said Mr. Singhvi, who had argued before the EC on behalf of the Congress party.

“We suggested that if someone does it for the first time then maybe he or she should be given a warning or a one day suspension. If someone repeats it, then it should be for three days and if someone does it for the third time, then it should for five days,” Mr Singhvi said.

Congress’ communication chief Randeep Surjewala tweeted to ask if the same principle will apply to the Prime Minister as well. “EC has pushed ’Pause Button’ on ‘Hate Speech Campaigners’! Will EC act against Modiji, now?” he asked.