EC had issued notice to Priyank Kharge for his ‘nalayak’ remark against PM Modi
Priyank Kharge, son of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, in his reply to the Election Commission (EC) notice has said that he has not violated the model of conduct and that he only referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “empty” rhetoric for the Banjara community at an election rally as “nalayak (inept)”.
The Election Commission on Wednesday issued notice to Congress MLA Priyank Kharge for his “nalayak beta” remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The EC had asked him to submit his reply by 5 p.m. Thursday.
In its notice to Kharge, the EC referred to a clause in the poll code which states that “Political parties and candidates shall refrain from criticism of all aspects of private life, not connected with the public activities of the leaders and workers of the other parties…” It said, “the Commission is prima facie of the opinion that you have violated the aforesaid provision of MCC by making the said statement.”
In its notice to Yatnal, District Election Officer Koppal cited the same clauses of the model code and said “a personal attack remark against a rival party leader is found to be made by you …which is in violation of the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct…”
The BJP had moved the Commission on Tuesday against Kharge for his remark while the EC had taken cognizance of Yaatnal’s statement through media reports.
Responding to the Election Commission (EC)’s notice, Priyank, the Congress’s incumbent MLA and candidate from Karnataka’s Chittapur seat, in his three-page long reply said, “It is alleged by the three BJP leaders, Piyush Goyal, Anil Baluni and Om Pathak that they find what I said to be abusive and that I allegedly invoked caste thus attempting to create disaffection between voters and citizens.
“The imputation attributed to me has to be seen in the context of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks made at Kalburgi for the Banjara community, which has been deeply hurt by the anti-Banjara-Scheduled Caste policies of the Modi-Bommai governments, who have done nothing for the SC-Banjara community (along with the entire SC-ST fraternity), except for paying lip service and then trampling upon their rights,” he said.
“I am ready to make any sacrifice and to accept any punishment for raising the voice of the underprivileged, the poor, and my brothers and sisters of the SC and ST community of Karnataka. I respect the Prime Minister but no one, including the PM, has the authority to trample upon the rights of Karnataka’s Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and to mock or ridicule us,” he said, adding that “I respectfully submit that I have not violated any provisions of the Model Code of Conduct”.
The polling for the 224-member Assembly is scheduled on May 10 and counting of votes will take place on May 13.
[With Inputs from IANS]
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Even Hiranya Kashyap & Jarasandh hurled abuses. End result is known to all
Shisupal or Shisu Paul – he is of different class, so excluded in above.
Even Hiranya Kashyap & Jarasandh hurled abuses. End result we all know.
Shisupal or Shisu Paul – he is of different class, so excluded in above.