Congress lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India on Monday, regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s contentious remarks concerning the party’s manifesto, alleging it bore resemblance to the Muslim League. A delegation consisting of former Union Minister Salman Khurshid, along with senior leaders Mukul Wasnik, Pawan Khera, and Gurdeep Sappal, met with commission officials to formally register the complaint.
Following the meeting, the leaders briefed reporters, highlighting their plea to the ECI to take a stern stance against the Prime Minister’s comments targeting the Congress party’s manifesto. Additionally, they brought to the Commission’s attention the issue of the Prime Minister’s hoardings in Delhi and the perceived misuse of his images alongside defense personnel, referencing an earlier advisory against such practices.
Furthermore, the party delegation raised concerns about restrictions on free speech, including the banning of YouTube channels and social media handles of individuals and journalists allegedly at the government’s behest. They emphasized to the EC officials that the authority to ban any channel during elections should rest with the commission rather than the government.
The delegation reported that the commission acknowledged their suggestion regarding the importance of preserving free speech without imposing restrictions. Party General Secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, later underscored the significance of the Election Commission’s independence in ensuring a fair electoral environment through a tweet, expressing hope that the commission would uphold its constitutional mandate.