New Delhi: A petition has been filed with the Delhi High Court alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi violated the model code of conduct (MCC) by soliciting votes in the name of “god and place of worship” ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
The petition, submitted by lawyer Anand S Jondhale, highlights PM Modi’s speech in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, on April 9, where he purportedly urged voters to support the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by invoking “Hindu deities and Hindu places of worship, as well as Sikh deities and Sikh places of worship.”
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Jondhale contends that PM Modi’s statements, including claims of constructing the Ram Temple, developing the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, and exempting GST on materials used in Langars served in Gurudwaras, constitute a violation of the MCC. The plea seeks to disqualify PM Modi from participating in any elections for six years.
The petitioner argues that PM Modi’s remarks not only contravene the MCC’s provisions outlined in the Compendium of Instructions Volume-III under Rules General Conduct-I(1) and (3), but also fuel division among religious and linguistic communities.
Jondhale said that PM Modi’s alleged appeals to religious sentiments and derogatory remarks against opposing political parties further exacerbate communal tensions and violate the principles of fair electioneering.
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Despite approaching the Election Commission of India (ECI) with a request to file FIR against the Prime Minister under Sections 153A (promoting enmity between groups) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and to disqualify Modi from contending in elections, the petitioner now seeks legal recourse through the judicial system.