Election Commission issues showcause notice to BJP President Amit Shah

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission tonight issued a showcause notice to BJP President Amit Shah for his remarks that if his party loses Bihar elections, crackers will go off in Pakistan and said prima facie he has violated the model code in force in the state.

"...the Commission is, prima facie, of the opinion that by making the... statement which has the potential of disturbing harmony and aggravating the existing differences between social and religious communities, you have violated ... provision of the Model Code of Conduct," the notice said.

The poll panel reminded Shah that a provision of the model code provides that no party or candidate shall indulge in any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities or religious and linguistic communities.

Shah had told an election rally at Raxual on Indo-Nepal border in East Champaran district on Thursday that if BJP loses in Bihar, Diwali will be celebrated in Pakistan.

He is said to have repeated the same in another rally at Bettiah, headquarters of West Champaran district on Thursday itself.

"Friends, remembers if by mistake BJP loses here and Nitish-Lalu win, the results will be announced in Patna but firecrackers will go off in Pakistan," the EC notice said quoting from Shah's speech.

The Commission has given him time till 3.00 pm of November four to explain his stand "failing which the EC shall take a decision without any further reference to you."