EC rules out poll code violation in Amit Shah's Maharashtra, Bengal speeches

According to the poll body, Shah did not violate any provisions of the MCC by invoking Pulwama terror attack and Balakot air strike in his speeches at Nagpur and Krishnanagar in West Bengal, during his election speeches.

In Nagpur, Shah had said: "When the whole country was rejoicing over the air strike on a terror camp in Balakot, there was mourning only in Pakistan and Rahul Gandhi's Congress."

Targeting Mr Gandhi's candidature in Kerala's Wayanad and his rallies there, the BJP chief said that it appeared as if they were being held in Pakistan.

However, the Commission ruled out any poll code violation in his statement.

In a reply to the Congress on its complaint, the poll body said that it had found no violation of MCC or extant advisories/provisions.

While delivering an election speech in Krishnanagar of West Bengal on April 22, Shah had said: "Forty of our jawans were martyred in Pulwama terror attack, nothing used to happen after such incidents. Narendra Modi ordered 'his Air force' on the 13th day of the incident and our aircraft blew the terrorists to pieces in Pakistan."

In the complaint to the Commission, the Congress had alleged that the remarks of 'his Air Force' is the violation the Commission's directive that it asks candidates and political parties to desist from invoking Defence forces in electioneering.

The poll body on Friday had also given a clean chit to Mr Modi for his Nanded, Varanasi speeches, as well as his interview with Aaj Tak news channel.

Image credit: Avishek Mitra/IBNS