Cobrapost sting: Election Commission turns down BJP request for ban on telecast of sting

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission has declined the BJP's request for stopping the publication and telecast of a Cobrapost sting operation on Babri demolition, directing the party to approach the courts instead.

"The EC, by precedent, does not intervene to restrain publication and airing of media stings. The aggrieved party is however free to approach the court for an injunction order against airing of such material," a senior EC functionary told TOI.'

The BJP's request seeking a restraining order against the Cobrapost sting telecast ahead of Lok Sabha poll was discussed at a full Commission meeting on Friday morning. The Chief Election Commissioner and the two Election Commissioners agreed that the issue was best directed to the competent court.

The Cobrapost sting operation alleges that the Babri Masjid was demolished as a part of a carefully orchestrated plan of the Sangh Parivar and Shiv Sena.

Branding the sting operation as "Congress sponsored", the BJP on Friday asked the EC to stop its publication and telecast. The BJP claimed Cobrapost was being used by the ruling party to divert attention from the issues of price rise, corruption and development, on which the saffron outfit is contesting the elections.The secret recordings show several key figures involved in the demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992 admitting that there was elaborate planning, months of training and even creation of a suicide squad for the criminal act.

The sting also shows that senior BJP leaders such as L K Advani and then Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh were aware of the entire conspiracy.