Delhi Polls: EC Bans Anurag Thakur For 72 Hours And Parvesh Verma For 4 Days From Campaigning

The Election Commission of India on Thursday banned BJP MPs Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Verma from campaigning and for 72 hours and 96 hours respectively. This came a day after the election Commission ordered removal of Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Verma from the list of star campaigners of BJP for Delhi assembly elections.

An EC official said the decision was taken as the poll panel was not satisfied with their reply to the show-cause notices.

The Election Commission had also issued notice to Parvesh Verma on Wednesday for prima facie violating Model Code of Conduct (MCC). He has been given till 12 noon on 30th January to provide an explanation, failing which EC will take a decision on the matter. Election Commission had issued a show-cause notice to Union minister Anurag Thakur on Tuesday for his “desh ke gaddaron ko” slogan at a poll meeting here, saying prima facie the remarks had the “potential of disturbing communal harmony” and the BJP MP had violated the poll code and electoral law.

West Delhi's BJP MP Parvesh Verma on Tuesday said what happened in Kashmir with Kashmiri Pandits could happen in Delhi, warning that lakhs of anti-CAA protesters in Shaheen Bagh could enter homes to rape and kill women.

During an election rallye, BJP leader and Union minister Anurag Thakur egged on the crowd to raise an incendiary slogan - "traitors should be shot at" - after he lashed out at anti-CAA protesters.

Thakur, who is the Union Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs, has his hands full during election season. Alongside discharging his duties as a minister during the busy Budget preparation exercise, he has also been holding midnight meetings with BJP cadres.

Thakur, known for his gentle tone, has been very aggressive in his campaign rallies under the directions of the top party leadership. He has been raking up the Shaheen Bagh issue in his speeches.

He was recently also in the news for cementing the BJP’s ties with his neighbour and JJP founder Dushyant Chautala in Haryana.