‘Disgraceful invocation of Balakot air strikes’ by PM Modi: Punjab CM Amarinder Singh writes to EC

Taking strong exception to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invocation of the success of Balakot air strikes by the Indian Air Force following Pulwama terror attack, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday wrote a letter to the Election Commission (EC), seeking action against the prime minister for violating the model code of conduct.

Terming PM Modi's speech in Maharashtra on Tuesday as "shockingly disgraceful", the Chief Minister said it was "a clear case of violation of the code of conduct, which constitutes the bedrock of free and fair election."

"Failure to check such instances suggested bias on the part of the EC," Amarinder Singh added.

Shocked by disgraceful invocation of Balakot air strikes & Pulwama martyrs by @narendramodi to woo voters. Written to #CEC #ElectionCommission to immediately check this grave code of conduct violation by PM & @BJP4India. Can’t let independence of armed forces be undermined. pic.twitter.com/T6GKHqEQT9

— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) April 10, 2019

In his letter to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora, Singh strongly protested PM Modi using the success of the Balakot air strikes and the sacrifice of the martyrs of the Pulwama attacks to woo first-time voters.

"That a person of the stature of the Prime Minister should indulge in such shameful acts makes a mockery of the democratic process of election and undermines the independence of the Election Commission as well as the armed forces, who have always prided themselves on their secular character," the Chief Minister wrote.

Amarinder labeled as "extremely unfortunate the fact that the Prime Minister was being allowed to engage in this kind of prejudicial behaviour, without the Election Commission taking any action to put a stop to such wilfull violation of the code of conduct, for the past several weeks".

"That the Prime Minister has been allowed to continuously and brazenly resort to such gimmickry to woo voters raises suspicions of bias on the part of the Election Commission, with the impression going out that the poll body is not coming down hard enough on those violating its own code," he said.

"The armed forces of a nation are the guardians of its frontiers, security and political system. They are apolitical and neutral stakeholders in a modern democracy. It is therefore necessary that political parties and leaders exercise great caution while making any reference to the armed forces in their political campaigns," the Chief Minister pointed out.