EC issues notice to Rahul for violating model code, seeks response in 48 hours

The Election Commission on May 1 issued a showcause notice to Congress president Rahul Gandhi for his alleged remarks that the Narendra Modi government has enacted a new law which allows tribals to be shot at.

Citing his speech made in Shahdol and Madhya Pradesh on April 23, the commission pointed at a provision of the model code which bars allegations to be levelled against political opponents.

Gandhi has been given 48 hours to respond to the notice, failing which EC will take action without further reference to him. Two BJP workers had approached the EC with the complaint, following which a report was sought from MP poll authorities.

According to a broad translation of the Hindi speech available on the internet, Gandhi had said, “Narendra Modi government has made a new law for tribals in which there is a line that says tribals can be shot at…They snatch your land, take away your jungle and water and then say that tribals can be shot at.”