New Delhi: Prime Minister Modi’s remarks over the Balakot air strikes have been said to be violative and the Maharashtra local poll authorities have submitted the same to the Election Commission of India yesterday.
Modi while addressing a BJP rally in Ausa, Latur in Maharashtra on 9 April asked first-time voters to dedicate their votes to those who carried out the Balakot air strike. “Can your first vote be dedicated to those who carried out the air strike. I want to tell the first-time voters: can your first vote be dedicated to the veer jawans (valiant soldiers) who carried out the air strike in Pakistan. Can your first vote be dedicated to the veer shaheed (brave martyrs) of Pulwama (terror attack),” Modi had said. This statement is violative of its EC orders, which says parties must refrain from using the armed forces in their campaigns.
Speaking about the matter, Deputy Election Commissioner Chandra Bhushan Kumar said they have received the report and it was under examination. The observations made by the district election officer cannot be disclosed yet he said.
The EC had on 19 March said, “Parties/candidates are advised that their campaigners/candidates should desist, as part of their election campaigning, from indulging in any political propaganda involving activities of defence forces.”