File photo of Arvind Kejriwal
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Convener Arvind Kejriwal today sought two more days time from Election Commission to reply to its notice for Model Code violation by appealing to Muslims in Delhi for votes on religious grounds.
In a letter to the EC, Mr Kejriwal urged it to grant him two more days to reply to the notice. He was served a notice by EC on November 20 after he distributed pamphlets asking Muslims to vote for AAP and was asked to reply by today morning.
"The Commission has prima facie observed that by distributing the pamphlet (seeking Muslim votes), you have violated the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct.
"You are hereby called upon to explain by 11 am on November 25 as to why action should not be initiated against you for the said violation," the EC notice said.
The notice to him follows a complaint filed by Harish Khurana, son of former Delhi Chief Minister Madan Lal Khurana, who objected to pamphlets being distributed by Kejriwal containing appeals to Muslim voters for their backing.
The pamphlet, whose objectionable parts EC has reproduced in its notice, purportedly has AAP saying that, "Delhi's Muslims should support AAP in the forthcoming polls.
"We (AAP) are not seeking votes for power or money but for rooting out corruption from the system and building a corruption-free India where people belonging to all religions can live in peace," the pamphlet said.
Mr Kejriwal has appealed in the pamphlet that, "BJP is a communal party. Till now Muslims did not have any alternative, but now they have an honest alternative in the form of AAP.
"We appeal to Muslim voters of Delhi to back our endeavours for clean politics and not fall into the trap in which they have been falling for the past 65 years."
The Model Code prohibits any such appeal before an election which invokes religion or caste for securing votes and says mosques, churches, temples or other places of worship shall not be used as a forum for election propaganda.