Spokespersons: Shri Salman Khurshid, Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Shri Gurdeep Singh Sappal and Shri Pranav Jha: Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that- We went to the Election Commission, we have raised broadly three issues, all of them very serious, with the Election Commission. Perhaps, the most serious, if we have to grade them on seriousness, is the one where we have pointed out to the Election Commission that a complaint by us as far back… and one day is too many days during this kind of electioneering schedule… as far as back as 24th November, i.e. three and half days ago, we have submitted to you a detailed representation showing direct visual evidence, undeniable, unambiguous, incontrovertible evidence of violations of the Model Code of Conduct by no less than the Hon’ble Prime Minister and the Hon’ble Home Minister.

The first of these videos is there by the Hon’ble Prime Minister talking in the idiom which is very special and unique to him and calling the Opposition leaders ‘Murkhon ka Sardar’. The second is the one which involves the Home Minister who has ascribed the ‘Rahu-Ketu’ syndrome to the leaders of the Congress party. And the third is again of the Hon’ble Home-Minister, who has needlessly raised issues of foreign origin, none of which has any connection with fair, direct campaigning or development issues.

We have pointed out that everyone is equal beneath the law, under the law; no one is above the law. We are, therefore, legitimately surprised that we have not even been called in the last four days. Four days is a very long time in a short span of a campaign period. Here, there is no issue of fact, no doubt as to the veracity because it is crystal clear in front of your eyes. We have supplied the links. Therefore, we have asked for immediate prompt action. What the action will be is for the Election Commission to decide, censure, warning… stoppage of course is now meaningless because there is already a silence period operating. But this must be a clear unequivocal message by the mega policeman, the Constitutional policeman for such matters, namely the Election Commission. It is as much the credibility of the Election Commission which is a stake as of the Model Code of Conduct and of our polity.

The second issue we raised was Telangana where we have pointed out that our apprehensions, which have already happened in places like Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, should not prove prophetic in Telangana. We have pointed out how every attempt is being made… and our cadres have informed us…. my colleague Dr. Ajoy Kumar gave specific examples of regions, booths, and areas that people are intending to violate the silence period sanctity by having all kinds of surrogate campaigning, which is prohibited. What you cannot do directly, you cannot do indirectly.

We have pointed out that the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Mr. Shivraj Singh Chouhan started having so-called public conversations in the silence period in Madhya Pradesh. We have clear information that the cadre of the BRS has been asked to fan out wearing pink shirts and using pink sarees, pink T-shirts… clear attempt to propagate and canvas on the BRS logo, symbol, and colour. All such surrogacy should be stopped and nipped in the bud. In fact, it is more serious if you are too clever by half, if you are over clever by half and you are finding indirect ways of circumventing the Model Code of Conduct.

The last point we raised was with respect to the Balaghat in Madhya Pradesh where we have shocking but incontrovertible evidence on video furnished to the Election Commission by us, which shows no less than the District Election Officer tampering with postal ballots. We raised the issue directly with the Election Commission as to who will guard the guardians? Who will guard the guardians, who will police the guardians? Here is an officer who is supposed to be the policeman for a fair electoral process, who is himself tampering with postal ballots. This is deplorable; there should be immediate punitive action. Tuesday, November 28, 2023.