EC issues notice to Anurag Thakur, Parvesh Verma for 'provocative' remarks

The Election Commission on Tuesday (January 28) issued showcause notices to BJP MPs Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Verma for their alleged provocative remarks at two separate election rallies in the national capital, where assembly polls are scheduled on February 8.

The two MPs were issued notices after the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer on Tuesday submitted a report to the Election Commission on the “provocative” language used by them while campaigning for the upcoming polls. Thakur has been given time till January 30 midnight to furnish his reply.

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

Thakur, the Union minister of state for finance, was seen in a video on Monday raising the “desh ke gaddaro ko” slogan, prompting the crowd to chant “goli maro s***o ko” while canvassing for a party candidate contesting the Delhi Assembly polls in Rithala. The slogan in Hindi can be translated as “shoot the traitors of the nation”.

Thakur on his part had refused to tender an apology for the same, telling reporters, “First watch the entire video… the mood of the people of Delhi should also be analysed.” Karnataka minister CT Ravi has backed Thakur’s remarks, saying, “anti-nationals should get bullets, not biryani”.

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

(With inputs from agencies)

Also read | EC office seeks report on ‘goli maro’ slogan at Thakur’s rally