Election Commission notice to Arvind Kejriwal for seeking Muslim votes on grounds of religion

New Delhi: The Election Commission on Wednesday issued a notice to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal for an alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct by way of an appeal on grounds of religion to Muslim voters to support his party in the upcoming Delhi Assembly polls.

The poll panel has given Mr Kejriwal time till 11 am on November 25 to file a reply as to why action should not be initiated against him for prima facie violation of the Model Code, which prohibits appeals to voters on grounds of religion.

"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 notice states.

In case Mr Kejriwal failed to submit his reply by the said deadline, appropriate action would be initiated against him without any further notice on the assumption that he has nothing to say, the poll panel added.

The notice follows a complaint filed by Harish Khurana, son of former Delhi Chief Minister Madan Lal Khurana, who objected to pamphlets being distributed by Mr Kejriwal containing appeals to Muslim voters for their backing.

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The pamphlet, whose objectionable parts the Election Commission has reproduced in its notice, purportedly has AAP saying that, "Delhi's Muslims should support Aam Aadmi Party 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 states.

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Mr Kejriwal further appeals in the pamphlet that, "BJP is a communal party. Till now the Muslims did not have any alternative, but now they have an honest alternative in the form of AAP. We appeal to the 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.

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Sub para 3 of Para 1 of the Code provides that, "There shall be no appeal to caste or communal feelings for securing votes. Mosques, churches, temples or other places of worship shall not be used as a forum for election propaganda."