NEW DELHI – India’s election watchdog on Monday banned two outspokenpoliticians from campaigning in the country’s national vote for makingprovocative speeches which it said could stir communal unrest.
The measures came after the Supreme Court called on the election commissionto get tough on hate speech during the world’s biggest election, whichstarted last Thursday and runs through to May 19.
Mayawati, a leader for low-caste Dalits, was banned from campaigning for 48hours for calling on Muslims to vote in a bloc against Prime MinisterNarendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Yogi Adityanath, firebrand BJP chief minister of India’s most populousstate Uttar Pradesh, was sidelined for three days for his response toMayawati, comparing the election to a battle between Muslim and Hindu gods.
Hindus — who make up the majority community in India — had “no option”but to support the BJP, he added.
Both politicians made “highly provocative speeches” which had “the tone andtenor to aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred betweendifferent religious communities,” the commission said.
Indian politicians are often accused of using hate speech and intimidationto win votes.
The Indian campaign has been marked by headline-grabbing declarations bypoliticians.
Adityanath has already waded into trouble by calling Muslims the “greenvirus” who are set to “engulf the nation”.
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BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj caused controversy last week by saying he was a”saint” who would put a “curse” anyone who votes against him — whileanother BJP contender, Maneka Gandhi, said Muslims should vote for her ortheir future requests could be shunned if she wins.
The Supreme Court has in turn called on opposition Congress party leaderRahul Gandhi to explain why he “incorrectly” attributed remarks to thecourt saying that Modi had “committed a theft” in agreeing a fighter dealwith France.
The election commission — often accused of being ineffective — has beenflooded with complaints since campaigning started in March, and the SupremeCourt told it to “act very promptly” on potential violations.
The watchdog told the court its code of conduct limits the punishments itcan mete out however.
“We can’t de-recognise them (parties) or disqualify candidates,” thecounsel representing the commission at the hearing on Monday said.
The commission sought to counter critics this month by postponing therelease of a fawning film biography of Modi. It also ordered a clampdown ona TV channel dedicated to the prime minister, NaMO TV. – APP/AFP
