Remarks on Modi: Margaret Alva gets notice

The district election officer has issued a notice to senior Congress leader and former governor of Rajasthan, Margaret Alva, for making a personal attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a Congress women’s convention held in Hubballi on April 11.

This action comes after the BJP joint secretary Lokesh Ambekal filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India claiming that Alva had breached the model code of conduct and the directions of the Election Commission of India (ECI).

To support the claim, the newspaper reports criticising Modi were enclosed with the complaint.

Code of Conduct

Based on the ECI direction, returning officer Deepa Cholan has issued a notice to Margaret Alva calling for an explanation as to why action should not be initiated against her for violating the instructions of Election Commission of India and MCC.

The notice further that “Model Code provides that political parties and candidates shall refrain from criticism of all aspects of private life, not connected with the public activities of the leaders and workers of other parties.

No appeal

It also provides that no party or candidate shall indulge in any activity which may aggravate existing difference or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religions or linguistic and there shall be no appeal to caste or communal feelings for securing votes.”

Assurance

It may be stated here that during a women convention in Hubballi on April 11, Margaret Alva had charged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had abandoned the responsibility of looking after his wife, and he did not give money to her to lead her life, due to which she was working as a teacher.. “What security can women expect from such a person?” she had remarked.