The Delhi High Court has dismissed a plea seeking the disqualification of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from contesting elections for allegedly making religious appeals during a speech in Uttar Pradesh. The plea claimed that PM Modi had asked voters to vote for his party in the name of Hindu and Sikh deities and places of worship, violating the Model Code of Conduct. However, the court dismissed the petition, stating that there was no evidence of a violation and the Election Commission is obligated to make an independent decision on the matter. The plea had also mentioned PM Modi's statements regarding the Ram Temple construction, Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, and GST exemption for langars in gurdwaras.
Delhi High Court Dismisses Plea for PM Modi's Disqualification over Religious Appeals
Background:
The petition against Prime Minister Narendra Modi stemmed from his speech during the 2019 Lok Sabha election campaign in Uttar Pradesh. In the speech, Modi allegedly made religious appeals, asking voters to support his party in the name of Hindu and Sikh deities and places of worship.
Court's Ruling:
On June 22, 2023, the Delhi High Court dismissed the plea seeking Modi's disqualification. The court held that there was no evidence of a violation of the Model Code of Conduct, which prohibits candidates from making religious appeals during elections. The court further stated that the Election Commission is the appropriate authority to investigate and decide on such allegations.
Petitioner's Claims:
The petition, filed by a lawyer named Surinder Singh, had argued that Modi's statements amounted to a violation of the Model Code of Conduct because they appealed to religious sentiments. The petition cited specific statements made by Modi, including:
Court's Reasoning:
The court rejected the petition's arguments, stating that the statements made by Modi were not aimed at influencing voters on religious grounds. The court noted that Modi had made similar statements about other states and religions, and that his speech was not solely targeted at religious sentiments.
The court also emphasized the role of the Election Commission in such matters, stating that it is the Commission's responsibility to interpret and enforce the Model Code of Conduct.
FAQs:
1. What is the Model Code of Conduct?
The Model Code of Conduct is a set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission to ensure fair and ethical elections. It prohibits candidates and political parties from using religious appeals, spreading false information, or engaging in other unethical practices during the election campaign.
2. Can candidates be disqualified for violating the Model Code of Conduct?
Yes, candidates can be disqualified if they are found to have violated the Model Code of Conduct. However, the decision to disqualify a candidate is made by the Election Commission after conducting an investigation and considering all the evidence.
3. What were the specific allegations against PM Modi?
PM Modi was accused of making religious appeals by asking voters to support his party in the name of Hindu and Sikh deities and places of worship. The petition cited specific statements made by Modi during his election speech in Uttar Pradesh.
4. Why did the court dismiss the petition?
The court dismissed the petition because it found no evidence of a violation of the Model Code of Conduct. The court held that Modi's statements were not aimed at influencing voters on religious grounds and that the Election Commission is the appropriate authority to investigate such allegations.
5. What is the significance of the court's ruling?
The court's ruling reaffirms the authority of the Election Commission to interpret and enforce the Model Code of Conduct. It also demonstrates the importance of avoiding religious appeals during election campaigns to ensure fair and ethical elections.
On Sunday morning, Sambhal district in Uttar Pradesh saw an outburst of violence when a team of surveyors arrived at the Shahi Jama Masjid to conduct a second survey of the mosque. The police had to resort to lathi charge and tear gas shells to control the crowd, who were throwing stones and attacking media personnel. Amidst all this chaos, the police announced that they would take strict action against those who were involved in the violence, stating that their actions were illegal under section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita.
During his monthly radio program, PM Modi emphasized the significant role youth play in shaping India's future and announced the upcoming Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue to coincide with Swami Vivekananda's birth anniversary and National Youth Day. The event will bring together 2,000 young minds from across India to brainstorm and develop a roadmap for the country's progress. PM Modi also urged youth from non-political backgrounds to join politics and will personally attend as much of the dialogue as possible.
The bypoll for the Meerapur Vidhan Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh has attracted attention with a total of 11 candidates vying to be elected as the MLA. The constituency, which is part of the Bijnor Lok Sabha seat, has been necessitated due to the resignation of Chandan Chauhan. Stay updated with live result updates to find out who will be the new Member of Legislative Assembly for Meerapur.
A heated debate has arisen between the Samajwadi Party and the BJP over the issue of voter identity verification for Muslim women wearing burqas, hijabs, niqabs, and ghunghats in the upcoming UP by-election. The Samajwadi Party has approached the Election Commission demanding that Muslim women should not have to remove their burqas for checks, while the BJP argues that every voter must be identified. The Election Commission has confirmed that only the polling officer is authorised to verify voter ID cards, and police or security personnel are not permitted to check ID cards or request a woman to remove her burqa. As polling continues, the outcome of this controversy remains to be seen.
Amidst growing controversy and criticism, the ruling BJP in Uttar Pradesh seems to have a dilemma over its slogan, "Batoge to Katoge" coined by CM Yogi Adityanath. Within the party, Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya has expressed ignorance about the slogan's context, causing opposition parties to question the party's unity. The BJP's attempts to present a consistent narrative seem to have failed as even party leaders like Ajit Pawar have spoken against the slogan. With differing slogans from top leaders, the opposition accuses the BJP of contradictions.
The results for the Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly polls are in, with the Shiv Sena-NCP alliance and the JMM facing a stiff challenge from the BJP. Despite facing internal divisions, the Maha Yuti alliance in Maharashtra looks set to secure a victory. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the JMM, bolstered by its I.N.D.I.A. allies, is expected to retain power. Stay updated with live updates and coverage on Deccan Herald and make sure to follow their Whatsapp, X, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram channels for more news.
In the recently concluded Maharashtra Assembly elections, the Congress faced a major defeat in direct contests with the BJP, winning only 10 out of 75 seats. This is a significant decline from their performance in the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year. The BJP's average vote share per seat contested rose by 6 percentage points, while the Congress saw a decline of 14 percentage points. In some key constituencies, the Congress finished in fourth place, highlighting the immediate need for the party to reassess its strategies and connect with the voting public.
In a surprising turn of events, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Mahayuti alliance has emerged victorious in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, securing a record-breaking 234 out of 288 seats. With the BJP coming out as the single largest party, winning 132 seats on its own, all eyes are now on who will be the Chief Minister of the state. The ruling alliance's stunning win has left Shiv Sena and Sharad Pawar's NCP far behind, with only 57 and 10 seats respectively. As celebrations break out in the winning camps, the people of Maharashtra eagerly await the next CM's announcement.
The INDI Alliance, led by Jharkhand Mukti Morcha's (JMM) Hemant Soren, secured a clear victory with 56 seats in the Jharkhand Assembly Elections 2024. The alliance's biggest partner, JMM, bagged 34 seats while Congress and RJD received 16 and 4 seats respectively. On the other hand, BJP-led NDA fell short with only 24 out of 81 assembly seats, out of which BJP alone won 21. The Jharkhand assembly elections were held in two phases and a total of 1,211 candidates were in the electoral race.
Despite initial confidence in the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance's victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut retracts statement and claims the results are not acceptable. This comes as the alliance struggles to maintain their lead against the MahaYuti alliance. In response, BJP Minister Chandrakant Patil extends an invitation to Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray to rejoin the MahaYuti, stating their comfortable position in forming the next government. The decision for the next chief minister will be made by the top leadership of the BJP and MahaYuti.