EC to take ‘action soon’ on PM Modi's reference of Balakot airstrike at rallies: Report

The Election Commission on Wednesday said that action will soon be taken over comments made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah that aim at politicising the action by armed forces, according to a NDTV report.

"There will soon be action. We will not wait for the election to end. Poll officers are collecting details," sources in the poll panel were quoted as saying. 

Earlier this month, sources said that the Election Commission is examining PM Modi’s remarks asking first-time voters to dedicate their vote to those who carried out the Balakot air strike, to ascertain whether they violate its directive to political parties against using the armed forces in their campaign.

While the commission had asked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to be careful in his utterances in future on his "Modi ji ki sena" remarks, it is examining reports on comments made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah on the armed forces.

Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi was also asked to be careful in future for his "Modi ji ki sena" remarks.

The EC had sought reports on Modi and Shah in the context of its advisory issued last month asking parties to desist from indulging in political propaganda involving actions of the armed forces.

"...Parties/candidates are advised that their campaigners/candidates should desist, as part of their election campaigning, from indulging in any political propaganda involving activities of defence forces," the commission said on March 19.

"Decision will be taken soon. The commission is examining the matter," highly-placed sources said.

The EC had sought reports on Modi and Shah in the context of its advisory issued last month asking parties to desist from indulging in political propaganda involving actions of the armed forces.

The Congress and CPM, have complained to the Election Commission, alleging that PM Modi and Shah have been trying to gain political mileage from the action taken by armed forces. The opposition also recently questioned the poll panel's reluctance to take cognisance of it.

Ever since the Indian Air Force carried out “pre-emptive” strikes on Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp in Pakistan’s Balakot on February 26, PM Modi has been mentioning about the action at his election rallies.