NCPCR writes to EC seeking action against Congress for ‘using children as props to fulfil political agenda’

NEW DELHI: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has written to the Election Commission of India asking them to initiate necessary action and inquiry into a complaint against the Congress, member of Parliament Rahul Gandhi and Jawahar Bal Manch for allegedly “misusing children as political tools” in their “Bharat Jodo Yatra”.
The NCPCR chief Priyank Kanoongo in his letter to chief election commissioner, Rajiv Kumar said, that the commission has received a complaint that Gandhi, the Congress party and the 'Jawahar Bal Manch' is “targeting children with political intentions and involving them in political activities”.
The complainant has alleged that since the launch of Congress party’s mass contact progamme, Bharat Jodo Yatra, many disturbing images and videos have been circulating on social media wherein it can be seen that “children are being targeted and are made to participate in this campaign with a political agenda under the slogan 'Bharat Jodo Bacche Jodo'”.It is alleged that children pirticipating in the campaign were seen holding the flags of the INC and shouting political slogans.
The NCPCR has cited this to be a violation of ECI’s rules which say that only adults of 18 and above can be part of a political party. The NCPCR chief goes on to say that it has taken cognisance of the matters since “there is a prima-facie violation of child rights”. “Further, use of children as props to fulfil political agenda is child abuse which can have a severe long term impact on their mental health and is against Article 21 of the Indian Constitution,” it is stated in the letter. The commission, citing all these details has asked ECI to look into the matter and “have a thorough inquiry of the events and take necessary action against the political party and its members who have been mentioned in the complaint.”