Supreme Court rejects Congress plea over alleged violation of poll code by PM Modi, Amit Shah

Rejecting the Congress party's plea, the top court said that since the Election Commission has already decided on all the complaints, there was no need for any further hearing in the case.

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Supreme Court rejects Congress plea over alleged violation of poll code by PM Modi, Amit Shah

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah (File Photo)

In a setback to the Congerss party, the Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected its plea against the alleged inaction of the Election Commission on complaints of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violation against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah. A two-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi ruled that the court need not to hear the case further as the Election Commission has already decided on all the complaints against the prime minister and the BJP chief.

Last week, the Supreme Court had asked the Election Commission of India to decide on all the complaints of poll code violation against Modi and Shah before the  fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections on May 6. Following the court's directions, the commission took notice of all the complaints and gave clean chit to PM Modi and Amit Shah.

In its latest clean chit to the prime minister, the poll panel on Tuesday said that Modi's 'Bhrashtachari No1' (corrupt no. 1) remark against late former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi at an election rally in Uttar Pradesh last week was not in the violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

Prima facie, we did not figure out any literal violation of MCC as given in Election Commission of India instructions. Case is therefore disposed off,” the poll panel said while giving clean chit to the prime minister.  

Earlier, Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP Sushmita Dev had filed a plea in the Supreme Court saying that the Election Commission was not taking any action against the prime minister, for what she called a brazen violation of poll code. She said that despite the commission's guidlines against the use of armed forces, Modi invoked the valoure of military to seek votes during his campaign.

Addressing a rally in Ausa of Latur in Maharashtra on April 9, PM Modi had urged young voters to cast ballots in the name of heroes of the Balakot air strike and martyers of Pulwama terror attack.

"I want to tell the first-time voters - can your first vote be dedicated to the veer jawans (valiant soldiers) who carried out the air strike in Pakistan. Can your first vote be dedicated to the veer shaheed (brave martyrs) of Pulwama (terror attack)," PM Modi had said.

Senior advocate, A M Singhvi, appearing for Congress Lok Sabha MP Sushmita Dev, who has filed a petition in the apex court on the issue, said that they have given 11 representations to EC against the prime minister but it has taken decision on only two.

Supreme Court congress Narendra Modi Election Commission Lok Sabha elections Model Code of Conduct