New Delhi: The Election Commission on Sunday issued showcause notices to BJP president Amit Shah, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad, after it held they had "prima facie" violated the model code of conduct in force for Bihar assembly polls.
The poll panel said Mr Shah had prima facie violated the model code with his remark that if his party loses Bihar elections, crackers will go off in Pakistan.
"...the Commission is, prima facie, of the opinion that by making the statement which has the potential of disturbing harmony and aggravating the existing differences between social and religious communities, you have violated provision of the Model Code of Conduct," the notice said.
Mr Shah had told an election rally at Raxual on Indo-Nepal border in East Champaran district on Thursday that if BJP loses in Bihar, Diwali will be celebrated in Pakistan.
"Friends, remember if by mistake BJP loses here and Nitish-Lalu win, the results will be announced in Patna but firecrackers will go off in Pakistan," the EC notice said quoting from Shah's speech.
The poll panel also slapped a showcause notice on RJD Chief Lalu Prasad for his reported remarks dubbing Amit Shah as "cannibal" and that he has "gone mad". Besides, it referred to Lalu's reported remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi wherein he had called him "vampire".
The poll panel said Mr Shah had prima facie violated the model code with his remark that if his party loses Bihar elections, crackers will go off in Pakistan.
"...the Commission is, prima facie, of the opinion that by making the statement which has the potential of disturbing harmony and aggravating the existing differences between social and religious communities, you have violated provision of the Model Code of Conduct," the notice said.
Mr Shah had told an election rally at Raxual on Indo-Nepal border in East Champaran district on Thursday that if BJP loses in Bihar, Diwali will be celebrated in Pakistan.
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"Friends, remember if by mistake BJP loses here and Nitish-Lalu win, the results will be announced in Patna but firecrackers will go off in Pakistan," the EC notice said quoting from Shah's speech.
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The poll panel also slapped a showcause notice on RJD Chief Lalu Prasad for his reported remarks dubbing Amit Shah as "cannibal" and that he has "gone mad". Besides, it referred to Lalu's reported remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi wherein he had called him "vampire".
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