[Marxistindia] Com. Nilotpal Basu writes to CEC on PM's remarks on Sabarimala aiming at communal polarisation

[news from the cpi(m)]

April 16, 2019

 

Press Release

 

Shri Nilotpal Basu, member of the Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of
India (Marxist), has written to the Chief Election Commissioner, Election
Commission of India regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks on
Sabarimala temple, in his election rallies, aiming at communal polarization.
We are releasing the text of the letter for publication.

 

 

 

 

(Hari Singh Kang)

For CPI(M) Central Committee office

 

Dear Shri Arora ji,

 

We are constrained to again refer to an instance of flagrant violation of
the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi
himself. To contextualize we had pointed out at the very outset, that the
atmosphere is being vitiated in the election campaign by importing
polarizing issues. Narendra Modi's statements in election rallies in
Ramanathapuram in Theni in Tamilnadu and Bangalore in Karnataka on 13th
April are emphatic pointers to this trend.

 

While addressing the Theni rally, he asserted that the Communists and the
Muslim League of playing a dangerous game on Sabarimala and initiating 'to
strike at the root of faith'. He asserted that: "as long as there is BJP
none can destroy our faith."

 

This is a clear example as to how Narendra Modi is not only violating MCC
but also implicitly challenging the order of the Election Commission to
refrain from using Sabarimala temple and Lord Ayyappa in the election
campaign. To recapitulate, the LDF government has, time and again,
reiterated that it does not stand against faith; but was confining itself to
implementing the Supreme Court order. Bringing in the question of faith and
accusing the LDF government in Kerala, the Prime Minster was trying to
appeal to the people belonging to the 'faith' and which is clearly against
MCC, as well as, your specific order. In these days of media and the
internet, the restriction of geographical boundary does not hold. 

 

We are witnessing that the Commission has passed certain orders against some
political leaders. We have also observed that the Supreme Court had reminded
the Commission of adequate powers which need to be proactively exercised to
ensure restraint on the polarizing thrust of BJP's campaign.

 

Since, the Election Commission of India itself is an independent
Constitutional authority and the Supreme Court order was in the spirit of
the Constitutional order, charging the communists and the LDF government for
implementing the apex court order amounts to, not just vitiating the
atmosphere but undermining the Constitutional order which defines the limits
of the election campaign.

 

We, therefore, strongly urge you to take immediate appropriate action
against the efforts of the Prime Minster and his role in the flagrant
violation. We are attaching the clipping of the media report which has
precisely reported on this violation. 

 

Thanking you,

 

With regards,

Yours sincerely,

 

S/d

Nilotpal Basu

Member, Polit Bureau

 

 

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