Daijiworld Media Network
New Delhi, Apr 15: Hours after taking strong action against Yogi Adityanath and Mayawati over poll code violation, the Election Commission barred two more political leader from campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections.
The fresh action has been taken against Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan and union minister Maneka Gandhi. While Azam Khan cannot campaign for three days, Maneka Gandhi has been barred for 48 hours.
According to the EC's order, Azam Khan is paying the price for his 'indecent and derogatory' comments against Jaya Prada, and Maneka Gandhi for her communal comments made at a gathering of Muslims.
Taking serious note of SP candidate from Rampur Azam Khan's recent comments against rival Jaya Prada, the EC noted that the comments "may be construed as being repugnant to the hour and dignity of women". Azam Khan had also been banned in 2014, and the EC said that he had not "changed his way of campaigning and he is indulging in using very objectionable language".
In her clip that went viral, BJP candidate from Sultanpur Maneka Gandhi was heard telling Muslims, "If my victory is without Muslims, I won't feel that good... Then when a Muslim comes to me for work, I think, 'Let it be, how does it matter'? It's all give and take, isn't it? We aren't all sons of Mahatma Gandhi, are we? (laughs). It's not that we keep on giving and then losing in the election. This victory will happen with or without you".
The EC said that Maneka Gandhi violated poll code by appealing to caste and communal feelings, as well as engaging in corrupt practices like intimidation.
Earlier in the day, the EC barred BSP chief Mayawati and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath from campaigning in the Lok Sabha elections for 48 and 72 hours respectively, for violating the poll code.