By : Shrishti Mehra
On Friday, a plea asking for a ruling banning Prime Minister Narendra Modi from running for office for six years will be heard by the Delhi High Court. The petitioner charged that during his campaign for the Lok Sabha Elections of 2024, Prime Minister Modi had asked for votes for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the names of religious figures and sites of worship.
Attorney Anand S. Jondhale filed the plea, according to Live Law. Justice Sachin Datta will preside over this case.
What statements does the petitioner make about PM Modi?
According to Bar and Bench, petitioner Anand S. Jondhale claimed that on April 9, PM Modi broke the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) even by giving a speech in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh.
According to the petitioner, PM Modi not only solicited votes in the name of Hindu and Sikh deities and places of worship, but also made remarks disparaging “opposite political parties as favoring Muslims,” according to Live Law.
“That the petitioner additionally contends that Respondent No. 2 (Prime Minister Modi) is in the process of delivering the same offensive speech across India while flying in government-owned aircraft and helicopters,” the plea reads.
According to the Jondhale submission, the research also stated that voters may become hostile towards PM Modi because of their caste and religious beliefs.
PM Modi’s remarks on April 9
PM Modi declared at a rally in Uttar Pradesh’s Pilibhit on April 9 that the INDIA bloc leaders “insulted Lord Ram” by rejecting the ‘pran pratistha’ invitation. He also criticized the Congress’ manifesto, claiming that it appeared to be that of the Muslim League rather than their own.
What is desired by the petitioner?
Jondhale attempted to prevent PM Modi from seeking votes in the “name of religious deities and places of worship” in response to his April 9 speech.
The petition also asked the Election Commission to disqualify PM Modi from running in elections for six years under the Representation of Peoples Act.
Jondhale has already petitioned the Election Commission (EC) to launch a FIR against PM Modi under Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code and disqualify him. However, he said that the polling body had taken no action in the case. Later, he filed the petition with the Delhi High Court.
According to the Constitution, Section 153 A of the IPC punishes persons who engage in “wanton vilification or attacks upon the religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc. of any particular group or class or upon the founders and prophets of a religion.”
Will Prime Minister Modi receive a clean chit from the EC?
In the allegation alleging he broke the election model code of conduct (MCC) on April 9 while campaigning in Pilibhit, PM Narendra Modi is probably going to walk away unscathed from the Election Commission.