NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked the Centre to file an affidavit clarifying that the recent Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) order banning all types of religious gatherings is being enforced across the board, after it opp-osed permitting more than 20 people to enter the Nizamuddin Markaz mosque during Ramzan.
"Are all religious places having limited numbers? Is it being enforced? You file an affidavit that no religious congregations are being permitted," Justice Mukta Gupta said, asking the Centre to indicate the manner in which the prohibitory orders of the DDMA issued on April 10 was being followed.
EC: Acting without notice to Sinha due to urgency of matter
The EC, in its notice to Dilip Ghosh, said it was of the view that he had, in violation of the model code of conduct, Section 123 (3A) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and Section 153A of the IPC (the latter two dealing with promoting communal hatred) “made statements that are provocative and can seriously incite the emotions and lead to breakdown of law and order, thereby adversely affecting the election process”. The EC gave him time until 10 am on Wednesday to explain.
While addressing a public rally in Barangar, North 24 Parganas on April 11, Ghosh had said, “Where did so many naughty boys come from? Those naughty boys were shot at yesterday in Sitalkuchi. These naughty boys will not be there in Bengal. Those who thought that the central forces' rifles were meant to be just for show have well understood now the power of cartridges. And this will be carried on throughout Bengal. Those who take the law in their own hands will be given a befitting answer. I hope that you all will queue up to cast your votes on the morning on April 17. Central forces will be there in the booths. No one can show you an angry eye. Because we are here. And if someone crosses his limits, then you have seen what happened in Sitalkuchi. There will be Sitalkuchi in several places.”
Trinamool Congress had complained to the EC against Ghosh’s “inflammatory” statement, saying it was an “open threat to Bengal and its people”. Strongly condemning Rahul Sinha’s statement during a speech on April 12, the EC barred him from campaigning in any manner from 12 noon on Tuesday to 12 noon on Thursday. He had said, “The central forces have given them a befitting answer. The central forces should have killed eight people instead of four in Sitalkuchi. The central forces should be issued a show cause notice as to why they have killed only four of them.”