EC comes down heavily on BJP, Congress for religious and casteist Lok Sabha election campaigns

The Election Commission has come down heavily on India's two national parties Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for their religion, language and caste-laced campaign during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

"India’s socio-cultural milieu is an enduring preserve cannot be made a casualty to elections. The big two parties not allowed to weaken the heritage of quality electoral experience of Indian vote," EC said.

The ECI has directed BJP President JP Nadda and Congres President Mallikarjun Kharge to issue formal notes to star campaigners to correct their discourse, exercise care and maintain decorum.



“Commission’s unprecedented orders to BJP and INC have been issued in the wake of plummeting quality of campaigning led by their star campaigners,” EC said.

BJP and its star campaigners have been asked to refrain from religious and communal overtones in campaigning. BJP has been asked to stop campaign speeches that may divide the society.

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Further, Congress has been asked to ensure that star campaigners do not make statements which give false impression such as that the Constitution of India may be abolished or sold.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has alleged that if voted to power, the INDIA bloc of parties will abolish the Agniveer scheme. EC has asked Congress campaigners to refrain from politicising the defence forces and to not make potentially divisive statements regarding socio-economic composition of defence forces.

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