by
P.S. Sahni
·
The Prime Minister of India’s speech in Banswara, Rajasthan on
21st April 2024 elicited a complaint by the Opposition Parties for
violation of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) filed duly with the Election
Commission of India (ECI).
·
The ECI issued a notice on 25th April to BJP
President, J.P. Nadda to file reply by 11 AM on 29th April.
·
The BJP reportedly sought one week’s time beyond 29th
April to reply to the notice.
·
The urgent, crucial matter now stands to be taken up on 6th
May by the ECI
·
By the time the MCC violation case comes up for hearing on 6th
May or thereafter, campaigning for more than half the parliamentary seats would
be over. Why did the ECI agree to give another week’s time for filing of reply?
And there is no guarantee that further ‘adjournment’ on the matter would not be
granted.
·
The PM appears to be a habitual violator of MCC since 2019, at
least. A report by QUINT (27.04.2024) indicates that 27 cases of MCC violations
have been filed by opposition parties against the PM for MCC violation since 2019.
Except the notice in the instant case no action has been taken against the PM.
·
Recall the statement of the Chief Justice of India made last
November to the effect that lawyers seek adjournment of the very same matters
which were urgently listed on their request. The Chief Justice made it clear
that he would not want the Supreme Court to be a Tareekh Pe Tareekh Court.
·
In the film ‘Damini’ (1993) the rape-survivor’s lawyer
captured the lived-truth of litigants in the dialogue: “Tareekh Pe Tareekh,
Tareekh Pe Tareekh, Tareekh Pe Tareekh milti gayi My Lord, Per Insaaf Nahi
Mila”.
·
Over a period of five years the voters in India are up
against a similar situation where MCC violations against the PM since the 2019
General Elections have elicited no action by the ECI, save the present case.
Here, too the matter has got adjourned.
·
The ECI, a quasi-judicial body, has effectively got converted
into a ‘Tareekh Pe Tareekh’ Court!
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