ECI concerned over plummeting levels of political discourses
Bhopal: Election Commission of India has expressed deep anguish over progressively plummeting levels of political discourses witnessed during the ongoing election campaign for the 5 State Assembly elections namely, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Delhi. The commission has received large number of complaints and counter complaints regarding violation of model code of conduct, use of provocative and inflammatory statements calculated to cause mutual hatred, disharmony and kill-will. Attacks on the personal character and conduct of political rivals, in utterances and through posters/hoardings tend to incite mutual hatred, disharmony and kill-will and aggravate the differences between different political parties and classes of citizens on the grounds of religion, caste, community etc. which the Model Code of Conduct dissuades from being resorted to.
The commission duly recognises the fundamental right of freedom of speech and expression under Article 19 (1) (a) of the Constitutions guaranteed to citizens, but it also needs to be pointed out that such right to freedom and speech is not absolute and is to be exercised in a such a manner that it does not transcend the boundaries of decency and morality or disturb public order or amount to defamation or violation of the Constitution.
The gravity of the situation can be gauged by the fact that the commission is seized of petitions from 2 national recognised political parties seeking each other’s de-recognition for repeated violations of the Model Code of Conduct under Para 16 (A) of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968. While the commission does not propose to take action on the lines prayed for, by the said 2 national recognised parties at this stage, the commission, however, desires to put all political parties on notice that any repeated violations of the Model Code of Conduct and use of intemperate and abusive language may invite action against the defaulting political parties.
