3-day campaign ban on Anurag Thakur, Parvesh Verma gagged for 4 days

The Election Commission on Thursday (January 30) imposed a ban on campaigning on Union Minister Anurag Thakur for three days for raising a provocative slogan during an election rally in the poll-bound national capital. BJP MP Parvesh Verma was also banned for campaigning for four days for his controversial remark on Shaheen Bagh protesters.

A day earlier, the poll body had ordered the removal of the two BJP leaders from the party’s list of star campaigners for February 8 Delhi polls. The two MPs were also issued notices after the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer on Tuesday submitted a report to the Election Commission on the “provocative” language used by them during campaigning.

Also read | EC issues notice to Anurag Thakur, Parvesh Verma for ‘provocative’ remarks

During a rally in Rithala, Thakur had raised the slogan “desh ke gaddaro ko”, prompting the crowd to reply, “goli maro saalo ko”. The slogan in Hindi can be translated as “shoot the traitors of the nation”. Thakur had refused to tender an apology, telling reporters, “First watch the entire video. The mood of the people of Delhi should also be analysed.”

Meanwhile, Verma had courted controversy after telling an election rally on Tuesday that anti-CAA protesters at Shaheen Bagh would come in lakhs and enter their houses to rape and kill women. The West Delhi MP had also asserted the protest site will be cleared in an hour on February 11 if his party comes to power.

(With inputs from agencies)

Also read | Video shows Anurag Thakur leading crowd to chant ‘shoot the traitors’