EC says no poll code violated in PM Modi’s Wardha speech slamming Rahul’s nomination from Wayanad

The Election Commission on Tuesday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's poll speech in Wardha in which he criticised Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's nomination from Kerala's Wayanad constituency does not violate the Model Code of Conduct. 

“The matter has been examined in detail in accordance with provisions of Model Code of Conduct, R P Act, and Maharashtra CEO’s report. Accordingly, EC is of the considered view that in this matter no such violation has been noticed,” the poll panel said.

Earlier this month, the Congress had moved the EC against PM Modi’s speech in which he said that the opposition party was "scared" to field its leaders from constituencies where majority dominates, alleging that the comments were "hateful and divisive".

Complaining against the prime minister's speech in Wardha, the Congress alleged that PM Modi made some "hateful, vile and divisive" remarks against Rahul Gandhi.

"The prime minister through his speech tried to spread hate for electoral gains which is a serious violation of the Representation of People Act," Singhvi told reporters outside the EC office.

Earlier today, the Supreme Court sought the poll panel’s response on a plea by a Congress MP alleging MCC violations by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah over their alleged hate speeches and using armed forces for "political propaganda".

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said it would hear at Thursday the plea of Sushmita Dev, Congress Lok Sabha MP from Silchar in Assam and President of 'All India Mahila Congress', alleging inaction by EC in deciding complaints against Modi and Shah.

The bench, also comprising Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph, made clear that it would be open to the EC passing "necessary/appropriate orders on the representation(s) of the petitioner (Dev)".

During his speech in Wardha on April 1, PM Modi had said that the Congress is scared to field its leaders from constituencies where majority dominates in terms of voter- base. He, however, did not name Congress chief Rahul Gandhi who has decided to contest the Lok Sabha election from Wayanad in Kerala.

He also slammed the Congress for the ‘Hindu terror’ metaphor and charged the opposition party with insulting "peace-loving" followers of the religion by linking them to terrorism.

"The Congress insulted Hindus and the people of the country have decided to punish the party in the election. Leaders of that party are now scared of contesting from constituencies dominated by the majority (Hindu) population. That is why they are forced to take refuge in places where the majority is a minority," Modi had reportedly said.