During the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 campaign, the petitioner accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using religious deities and places of worship as a means of obtaining votes for the BJP.
On Friday, the Delhi High Court will consider a request for an order barring Prime Minister Narendra Modi from running for office for six years. During his campaign for the Lok Sabha Elections of 2024, the petitioner accused Prime Minister Modi of requesting votes for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the names of religious deities and places of worship. According to Live Law, attorney Anand S. Jondhale made the plea. Justice Sachin Datta will hear the case, regarding elections.
What statements does the petitioner make about PM Modi?
Petitioner Anand S. Jondhale claimed that on April 9, PM Modi broke the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) when giving a speech at Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, according to Bar and Bench.
According to the petitioner, PM Modi has made remarks disparaging “opposite political parties as favouring Muslims” in addition to requesting votes in the names of Sikh and Hindu deities and their places of worship, according to Live Law.
“That the Petitioner additionally contends that Respondent No. 2 (Prime Minister Modi) is in the process of delivering the same offensive speech across India while flying in government-owned aircraft and helicopters,” the plea reads.
The report also stated that Jondhale argued that PM Modi’s comments “have the potential to create hatred among voters in the elections on the line of caste and religion.”
PM Modi’s remarks on April 9
PM Modi said that by turning down the invitation to “pran pratistha,” the leaders of the INDIA bloc “insulted Lord Ram” at the April 9 rally in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh. In addition, he had criticized the Congress’ manifesto, claiming that it seemed to be the Muslim League’s rather than their own.
He added that the BJP is solidly in support of Sikhs. The Prime Minister made this statement while highlighting the BJP government’s plan to open the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor and waive GST on “langar” commodities.
The petitioner’s desires Jondhale attempted to stop PM Modi from requesting votes in elections in the “name of religious deities and places of worship,” citing his speech on April 9.
In accordance with the Representation of Peoples Act, the plea also asked the Election Commission to rule that Prime Minister Modi would not be allowed to run for office for six years.
In order to disqualify PM Modi and submit a formal charge against him under Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code, Jondhale had previously filed a complaint with the Elections Commission (EC). He did, however, claim that the poll body had not yet taken any action in this regard. He thereafter submitted the plea to the Delhi High Court.
According to the Constitution, engaging in “wanton vilification or attacks upon the religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc. of any particular group or class or upon the founders and prophets of a religion” is punishable under Section 153 A of the IPC.
Will the EC give PM Modi the cold shoulder?
Regarding the allegation alleging that PM Narendra Modi broke the election model code of conduct (MCC) on April 9 while campaigning in Pilibhit, the Election Commission is probably going to give him the benefit of the doubt.
