Poll panel censures Kejriwal for his remarks against BJP

The Election Commission on Friday censured Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal for his remarks accusing the BJP of spreading communal hatred in the capital.

The poll panel, which had issued notice to Kejriwal on January 17 following a complaint by the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Delhi unit chief Satish Upadhyay, said Kejriwal’s comments violated the model code of conduct. Kejriwal had alleged that the BJP had engineered the recent riots in Trilokpuri and was attempting the same in Nangloi, Nand Nagri and Bawana. 

The EC held that Kejriwal’s statement had the effect of creating mutual hatred ahead of the February 7 Assembly poll though the AAP chief, in his reply, tried to justify the remarks. “The commission has carefully considered your reply and also seen the video-clip of the said press conference...and has noted that you have not denied the statements,” the EC observed.

In its order, the EC drew attention to sub para(1) of Para I of the model code, which restrains parties and candidates from indulging in activity that may aggravate existing differences or cause tension along caste or communal lines.

The EC ruled that Kejriwal’s remarks had vitiated the purity of the election process and disturbed the level playing field.