Karnataka sovereignty row: EC points discover to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge over Sonia Gandhi’s remarks | Photograph: IANS
The Election Fee on Monday issued a discover to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge asking to offer clarification and take rectification measures over former get together chief Sonia Gandhi`s “Karnataka sovereignty” remarks.
Within the discover to the Congress chief, the EC mentioned, “I’m directed to confer with a criticism dated Could 8, 2023 submitted by the leaders of Bharatiya Janata Occasion, particularly, Bhupender Yadav, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Tarun Chugh, Anil Baluni and Om Pathak to the Fee concerning a tweet which appeared on the official Twitter deal with of the Congress on Could 6, 2023 at 09:46 PM.”
“CPP Chairperson Sonia Gandhi Ji sends a robust message to six.5 crore Kannadigas: The Congress won’t permit anybody to pose a menace to Karnataka’s popularity, sovereignty or integrity,” the ballot panel cited the tweet as saying.
It mentioned that within the criticism made by the BJP, it’s alleged, inter-alia (as quoted), “Karnataka, is a vital member state within the union of India and any name to guard the sovereignty of a member state of the union of India quantities to a name for secession and is fraught with perilous and pernicious penalties.”
“In view of the above, you’re requested to make clear and take rectification measures in respect of the social media submit which has been put up on the INC Twitter deal with and attributed to Chairperson CPP,” the EC mentioned.
The EC cited that in keeping with the criticism made by the BJP, the tweet is violative of the obligatory oath undertaken by the political events underneath part 29A (5) of the Illustration of the Folks Act, 1951 on the time of registration.
Earlier within the day, a delegation of BJP had moved the ballot panel in opposition to remarks by Sonia Gandhi on ‘sovereignty of Karnataka’, which has triggered a large political storm within the run-up to the Could 10 Meeting election.
The criticism filed with the EC by the BJP reads, “Definition of sovereignty is an impartial nation. India is a sovereign nation and Karnataka is a proud a part of it.
Describing this assertion as “surprising and unacceptable”, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje, who filed the criticism, mentioned Sonia Gandhi has violated provisions of the Mannequin Code of Conduct and requested the EC to take stringent motion in opposition to her for making “such a press release”.
Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi and different BJP leaders focused the grand previous get together over the comment. On Saturday, Sonia Gandhi had addressed a rally in Hubbali district of poll-bound Karnataka. Polling for Karnataka meeting is scheduled on Could 10 and counting of votes will happen on Could 13.
