States »SoutPosted at: Apr 1 2021 3:49PM Scandolous remarks against CM : EC reprimands Raja, imposes 48 hr ban on campaigning
Chennai, Apr 1 (UNI) The Election Commission of India (ECI) on
Friday reprimanded and banned DMK MP A Raja from campaigning
for 48 hours for his derogatory and scandlous remarks against Tamil
Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami.
In an order, the ECI said it was not not satisfactory with the explanation
given by Mr Raja denying the allegations to the notice issued to him,
and imposed a 48 hour ban on him from campaigning with immediate
effect and delisted his name from the DMK star campaigner list.
Tamil Nadu goes to polls on April six.
The ECI said it had received a complaint through Tamil Nadu Chief
Electoral Officer from the ruling AIADMK wherein it was alleged that
Raja had made derogatory and scandolous speech against the Chief
Minister during election campaign at Thousand Lights Assembly
constituency.
It said the ECI had obtained a factual report in the matter from the
CEO and the Central Crime Branch has registered a case against
him under Sections 153, 294(b) of IPC and under Sec 127 of the
Representation of the People Act,1951.
It said on the basis of preliminary reports and the transcripts of the
statement, Raja had inter-alia stated that ''M K Stalin (DMK Party
Chief) is a child of good relationship and good birth, while Mr
Edappadi K Palaniswami is a child of bad relationship and a
premature born child''.
In his Meensurupatti speech he had stated that ''you (CM) crawled
and held V K Sasikala's (ousted AIADMK leader) feet to come to
this position, but Mr Palaniswami, who consider that he is having
knowledge and dignity, just for the sake of CM post, crawled and
held Sasikala's feet who is almost equal in age or to say who is
six months younger, whereas born in an illegal manner in a
premature brith is EPS'', the ECI pointed out.
''After considering your statements and reports, the ECI had
found the contents of the speech are not only derogatory, but
also obscene and lower the dignity of motherhood of women,
which is a serious violation of the provisions of Model Code
of Conduct (MCC), and a notice was issued to you to explain
your position by 1800 hrs on March 31'', it said
In his interim reply, Raja had denied the allegation and asked
for a copy of full text of the alleged abusive speech, copy of
the complaint preferred by AIADMK and requested to give him
an opportunity to give a detailed reply and personal hearing with
his advocate'', the ECI pointed out.
The ECI considered Mr Raja's reply and the same was not found
satisfactory.
It was also observed that asking for the above said details and
more time to represent is an attempt to buy time which the ECI
cannot afford to give in the midst of elections, the ECI said.
''After considering all facts, documents, reports and your reply,
the ECI hereby reprimands you for violation of MCC, delists your
name from the list of star campaigner of DMK and debars you from
campaigning for 48 hours with immediate effect'', the ECI order
said.
The ECI also advised him to be watchful and not to make
intemperate, indecent, derogatory, obscene remarks and
lower the dignity of women in future during election
campaign'', it said.
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