Gujarat Police file FIRs against Narendra Modi for violating election rules

The Election Commission directed the Gujarat administration to file a complaint/FIR against Narendra Modi for "violating" election law.

Zee Media Bureau

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat Police on Wednesday filed two FIR against BJP`s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi for flashing his party`s election symbol near a polling booth. The Election Commission had today directed the Gujarat administration to file a complaint/FIR against Modi for "violating" election law. "The commission is of the view that by holding that meeting and also by addressing the same today when the polling is going on in the entire state of Gujarat and in different parts of the country, Narendra Modi has violated the provisions of Sections 126 (1)(a) and 126 (l)(b) of R P Act 1951," it said. "Therefore, the commission directs...That complaint/ FIR as the case may be, should be filed against Narendra Modi and all others who were involved in the convening and holding of the said meeting...," the EC order said. It had also said that all the TV channels and other electronic media which carried the proceedings of the meeting and displayed the election matter should also be proceeded against under Section 126 (l) (b) "by filing separate complaints/FlRs against those channels". Earlier in the day, Modi set off a controversy when he openly sought votes for BJP while holding aloft his party`s `Lotus` symbol immediately after casting his ballot. Congress immediately moved the Election Commission accusing him of model code violation. Acting swiftly on the complaint, the poll body had sought a report from the returning officer. Though it is a normal practice for top leaders to make brief statements to the media after casting their votes, what irked Modi`s rivals was a full-fledged press conference that the Gujarat Chief Minister held during which he not only fervently asked the electorate to vote for BJP but also launched a tirade against Congress. The tech-savvy BJP`s prime ministerial hopeful was also seen happily clicking selfies while prominently displaying the party symbol. AICC legal department secretary KC Mittal promptly filed a complaint to the EC, saying Modi`s speech and display of symbol was in violation of Section 126 of Representation of People Act (RPA) and demanded an FIR be registered against him. "It is noticed from the live news telecast on various news channels that Modi went to the polling station at Gandhinagar to cast his vote.” "And on his way out he was campaigning for BJP and delivering speech in a fashion to canvas for BJP, himself and also displayed the election symbol to the public while showing his finger for having cast his vote," the party said in the complaint, adding, "he may also be disqualified for such blatant violation." Ahmedabad Collector, who is the Returning officer for the poll, was asked by the Election Commission for a report on Modi`s press conference row. Congress spokesperson Meem Afzal earlier told a news agency that his party has complained to the Central Election Commission, seeking immediate action by the commission. The Congress leader said the party first sent a message to the commission, and soon after filed a written complaint. Attacking Modi, Afzal said Modi is "arrogant" and considers himself "above law". "He is just tearing apart law... Modi thinks he is already the prime minister and perhaps above law," Afzal said. "But he forgets in this country even the prime minister is not above law," he said. As per the Election Commission norms, a candidate is liable to be booked for model code violation if he canvasses within a radius of 100 metres of a polling booth. "Congress has accepted defeat as it is now saying that it will support the Third Front to keep me out of the (PM`s) race. The mother-son government is on its way out," Modi said addressing journalists, who jostled for space. "The Prime Minister, the Finance Minister and other senior ministers are not in the contest. Tall leaders of Congress are running away from elections," he said. Modi`s press meet did not go down well with the Aam Aadmi Party too, with its Gujarat convener Sukhdev Patel saying they would register a complaint against him. "Modi is a senior politician. He should know his limits. But it has been his nature to flout rules and this is an example of it," Patel said. Aam Aadmi Party candidate Ashutosh, meanwhile, asked how come Modi was allowed to hold a press conference with party symbol on voting day.

Good morning.How come Modi be allowed to hold a press conference with party symbol on voting day. violation of EC guideline.Will EC react?

— ashutosh (@ashutosh83B) April 30, 2014

BJP released manifesto on polling day. Modi did road show on other polling day and now PC with party symbol today.will EC react?— ashutosh (@ashutosh83B) April 30, 2014

Gujarat Congress president Arjun Modhvadia said, "We will seek action against him and demand his arrest for poll code violation." He also alleged that the Gujarat administration was working like an "agent" of Modi and the Election Commission had failed to exercise control over the state officials. "Since the very beginning, we have been drawing the attention of the Election Commission of India that Gujarat administration is not under control of the EC. Officials are behaving like Modi`s agents," he said. (With PTI inputs)