Congress moves ECI against BJP’s ‘communal’ and ‘divisive’ campaign in Jharkhand – ThePrint – PTIFeed

New Delhi, Nov 17 (PTI) The Congress on Sunday filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI), seeking strict action against the BJP for allegedly continuing its “communal and divisive” campaign in Jharkhand days before the second and final phase. parliamentary elections scheduled in the state for November 20.

In the second complaint registered with the poll group in a week, Congress general secretary (communication) Jairam Ramesh accused the Jharkhand BJP of spreading “false and misleading” information on social media.

Sharing the complaint in a post on X, Ramesh said it was the party’s second complaint to the ECI against the BJP’s “false, misleading and communal” social media posts uploaded on the party’s official Facebook and X pages.

“Despite registering a criminal case, BJP has not removed its previous posts on social media. They are clearly continuing their communal and divisive campaign in Jharkhand with impunity,” the Congress leader said.

“We hope ECI will take strict action against BJP officials including their social media in-charges,” he added.

In the complaint, Ramesh said he was writing to highlight incidents of “ongoing and flagrant violations of the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) as well as applicable election laws by the BJP Jharkhand unit through its official account X, ‘ @BJP4Jharkhand” and Facebook account “BJP Jharkhand”. In a memorandum submitted to the ECI earlier, the Congress had complained about “malicious, defamatory and controversial” posts on social media by the Jharkhand BJP unit.

“According to our complaint, an FIR was registered against the said post on the social network. However, the post complained about is still in the public domain,” Ramesh said.

The Congress leader also alleged that despite registering a criminal case, the BJP and its Jharkhand unit have not removed the posts from their social media accounts.

“This clearly explains either of two things: the BJP and its state unit, in their aim to promote divisiveness in the election manifesto, did not deliberately delete these social media posts; or the BJP and its state unit have disregarded not only all election norms but also the mandate of this Commission,” the complaint said.

Ramesh also accused the Jharkhand BJP of uploading a video on social media that begins with the house of a Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) supporter in an attempt to portray the men, women and children of a particular community in a very bad light.

“The motive of mistrust and the message behind the video is very clear,” Ramesh claimed.

“In the absence of any orders or directions against them, the BJP and its state unit dared to act with such impunity. We demand that this callous disregard for electoral law and the consequences of the violations demand urgent and stern action from this Commission.

“A recent video uploaded by the BJP is spreading a false story about members of a particular religious community with the sole aim of influencing voters and dissuading them from voting for any opposition party and for the BJP to gain an unfair electoral advantage in Jharkhand.

“The content of the video makes direct reference to religious identity as an appeal/vote appeal, in gross violation of the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct and the Representation of the People Act, 1951,” the Congress complaint said.

Ramesh also said that in view of the “repeated and unwarranted violations”, “we request the Commission to take strict action against the BJP and its Jharkhand unit to ensure that the political party, despite its status, is not emboldened to campaign de hors electoral norms of conduct and election laws”.

“We pray that this Commission may issue directions and orders to BLOCK the social media accounts of the BJP Jharkhand unit on X and Facebook; orders the immediate removal of all public, controversial and harmful videos, including but not limited to the impugned videos, from all BJP social media accounts,” Ramesh said in the complaint.

The Congress leader also demanded direct registration of FIR against all persons involved in the operation and control of BJP’s Jharkhand unit and its social media accounts and any other such orders deemed necessary by the Commission in the interest of justice. PTI SKC The 81-member Jharkhand Assembly passed its first phase of elections on November 13 and the second and final phase will be held on November 20. The results will be announced on November 23. PTI SKC ARI

This report is automatically generated by PTI news service. ThePrint is not responsible for its content.