Kapil Mishra On Poll Panel Notice: Speaking Truth Not Crime, Stand By What I Said

In trouble over the Election Commission notice, Delhi BJP candidate Kapil Mishra said that stands by what he had said. “I received a notice from Election Commission last night, I'll give my reply today. I don't think I said anything wrong. Speaking truth is not a crime in this country. I spoke the truth. I stand by my statement,” Mishra was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. The Returning Officer issued a notice to Mishra over his tweet where the BJP’s Model town candidate had referred upcoming Assembly elections in Delhi as ‘contest between India and Pakistan.’ The notice has been issued after the Election Commission of India (ECI) sought a report from the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) on the BJP leader’s tweet.

The Controversial Tweet

“On 8th February there will be a contest between India and Pakistan on the streets of Delhi,” the BJP's candidate from Model Town had said in the tweet. In a series of provocative tweets, he also said Pakistani rioters have taken over the streets of Delhi. "No party or candidate shall include in any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic," the notice reads.

BJP candidate @KapilMishra_IND in trouble over his latest tweet, where he referred upcoming #DelhiAssemblyElections2020 as ‘contest between India and Pakistan.’

📸: EC Notice

READ full story:https://t.co/ytzglM5qdl pic.twitter.com/l5Fe5Fhzef

— News Nation (@NewsNationTV) January 24, 2020

The BJP leader made no specific mention of the movement against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act but sharply attacked the protest at Shaheen Bagh and other places in the city.

Mishra also didn’t shy away from making direct remark on the ongoing Shaheen Bagh protests. “Roads are encroached upon in Shaheen Bagh, people aren't being allowed to go to schools, offices, hospitals, inciting slogans are being raised. The shamelessness with which Manish Sisodia said he stands with Shaheen Bagh means that this is a political movement,” Mishra was quoted as saying.

Shaheen Bagh Protests

Mishra, who left the Aam Aadmi Party to join the BJP, said, "Pakistan has made its entry in Shaheen Bagh. Many mini Pakistans are being formed in Delhi. Indian law is not not being followed in Shaheen Bagh, Chandbagh, Indralok."

"Pakistan rioters have encroached on the roads of Delhi (Pakistan ki entry Shaheen Bagh mein ho chuki hain. Delhi mein chhote chhote Pakistan Banaye ja rahe hain. Shaheen Bagh, Chand Bagh, Indralok mein desk ka kanoon nahi mana jaa raha hain. Pakistani dangayiyo ka Delhi ki sadko pe kabza)," he tweeted.

Mishra, who has often found himself in controversy, faces AAP MLA Akhileshpati Tripathi in the elections. He was criticised for a tweet with communal overtones during Diwali last year. The post was later taken down by Twitter for violating its guidelines.