The Election Commission on Tuesday issued a notice to the Aam Aadmi Party over alleged disparaging, insulting, and defamatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media.
In a statement, the EC said it received a complaint on November 10 from the BJP regarding AAP’s X (earlier known as Twitter) posts. The BJP has alleged that the posts portrayed PM Modi in a ‘disparaging, insulting and defamatory’ manner with ‘scurrilous and malicious intent’.
“The posts prima facie violate MCC (Model Code of Conduct) as well as provisions of election and penal laws,” the EC said, asking the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is also AAP convenor, to explain the statement by November 16 as to why appropriate action for violation of MCC, as well as provisions of election and penal laws, should not be taken against him.
“The present alleged matter has been found to be posted from the handle of the Aam Aadmi Party itself, which being a national party is expected to exercise caution through verification of facts before publishing and disseminating such content in public domain”, the EC further said.
Last Wednesday, the AAP posted a video story on ‘X’ featuring industrialist Gautam Adani and Prime Minister Modi. The next day, the party posted a picture of Adani and Modi and alleged that the PM works for the industrialist, and not the people. The BJP moved the EC, demanding action against the party. A BJP delegation, comprising Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri, party national media in-charge Rajya Sabha member Anil Baluni, and party leader Om Pathak, approached the poll panel on the issue.
