[Marxistindia] CPI(M) General Secretary's letter to CEC on violation of ECI guidelines by PM

[news from the cpi(m)]

April 22, 2019
 
 
Press Release
 
We are herewith releasing the full text of the letter addressed by CPI(M)
General Secretary, Sitaram Yechury to the Chief Election Commissioner, Shri
Sunil Arora regarding the violation of the ECI's guidelines by the Prime
Minister against invoking the armed forces for electoral benefit by
political parties.
 
 
 
***
 
Full Text of the Letter
April 22, 2019
 
Dear Shri Arora ji,
 
The Election Commission had issued clear guidelines on how matters of
national security, actions of the Indian Armed Forces were not to be used as
fodder for election speeches by the ruling party. These were reiterated by
the Commission after the announcement of general elections as well.
 
We see that the Prime Minister is constantly flouting those guidelines and
violating principles which have been laid down as ground rules for all
political parties and leaders to follow. We believe that you have taken
cognisance of his speeches in Latur where he called for a vote in the name
of Pulwama martyrs, although the details of disciplinary action taken
against him are still awaited. Moreover, we are yet to hear on when he would
be asked to refrain from insulting the Commission's guidelines, vitiating
the electoral process and therefore, our democratic exercise.
 
We would like to draw your attention to two recent statements of Shri
Narendra Modi, which are in public domain and have been reported in great
detail in the print and electronic media.
 
On Sunday, April 21, on the last day of election campaigning in Gujarat, he
said had Pakistan not returned the Indian Air Force pilot then it would have
been a 'qatal ki raat' (night of slaughter).
 
"On the second day, America's senior official said India would do something
big. That Modi was ready with 12 missiles. It would have been a serious
situation so it was good that Pakistan announced to return the Indian pilot
else it would have been 'qatal ki raat'," PM Modi said while addressing a
rally in Patan.
 
Ironically, US President, Donald Trump, addressed global media at Hanoi
saying that world should expect good news about the Indo-Pak conflict a few
hours before Abhinandan was returned by Pakistan!
 
By claiming that it is him, and not our armed forces that secured India in
the recent air strikes between India and Pakistan, he has gone onto claim
that Pakistan sent back Indian Air Force pilot after his threat to
Islamabad.
 
Shri Modi has been irresponsible and callous in going to the extent of
calling for use of nuclear weapons. In an election rally in Barmer on
Sunday, he said "India has stopped the policy of getting scared of
Pakistan's threats. Every other day they used to say 'we have nuclear
button, we have nuclear button'. What do we have then? Have we kept it for
Diwali?"
 
The brazen, reckless invocation of armed forces, armed action and then
threats of nuclear war, as something that is a partisan political act he
would push for and something on the basis for which a vote is sought, in our
opinion, even further compromises the integrity of the electoral process as
laid out by the Election Commission.
 
Allowing the Prime Minister, a candidate in Varanasi and the star campaigner
for the ruling BJP, to constantly seek to appropriate the valour of the
Armed Forces and seek votes directly violates the Model Code of Conduct and
misusing his office of Prime Minister, for electoral reasons.
 
Even after asking for a vote "in the name of martyrs" a few weeks ago, he
has continued with speeches which violate your well-established rules. We
urge you to use your good offices and put a stop to this impunity.  
 
We urge you to act, so the sanctity of guidelines laid out by you is
preserved and the entire election process truly remains a level-playing
field for all parties and candidates.
 
In our considered opinion, the sanctity of the mandate given to the Election
Commission by Article 324 of the Indian Constitution can only be upheld if
the Election Commission acts with urgency to ensure compliance of all,
including Prime Minister Modi, to its own guidelines issued publicly.
 
Looking forward to prompt appropriate action.
 
Thanking you,
Yours truly
 
Sd/-
 
(Sitaram Yechury)
General Secretary
 
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