The Gujarat election verdict will be delivered today but the election commission is yet to take any action on the numerous complaints against the ruling BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Congress feels little is happening to all its complaints against the Bharatiya Janata Party while things moved swiftly when it came to grievances against others in the poll fray.
The stock reply of the Gujarat Chief Election Officer (CEO) to all queries is: “We are looking into it.”
However, the CEO’s office could not even tell for two days the number of complaints it received against the BJP for violation of the model code of conduct. The Congress has made 20 applications.
Since the announcement of the Gujarat elections on October 25, the code of conduct came into effect, preventing the government from making any policy announcements related to new schemes and stopping all parties from invoking communal and caste tensions.
Parties were also barred from using official machinery to influence voters. However, there were numerous allegations of violation of the code of the conduct against Modi.
The first was during a public meeting the premier addressed in Palitana, Bhavnagar district, on November 29 where he allegedly incited hatred between the Patidar and Rajput communities over a conflict which occurred more than 30 years ago.
In 1982, three members of the Rajput community of Chomal village near Mangadh were killed and 19 Patels were charged with murder but were acquitted.
In an alleged reprisal in 1984, the Rajputs killed nine Patidars in Mangadh. After that, Mangadh village remained embroiled in caste conflict. But time had healed the wounds and since then the area has been at peace.
But Modi is alleged to have looked to fan the flames of hatred with his comments that “Gujarat cannot forget those days when (Patidar) farmers were looted by a handful of strongmen (Rajputs) who had the blessings of the Congress.”
Modi repeatedly asked the crowds “now it is for the people to decide whether they want those days back. Do you want to bless those who carried out the murders of innocents in Mangadh?”
Through the Bhavnagar district collector and the Gujarat Khedut Samaj a complaint was filed against Modi. The poll panel was also urged to ban him from campaigning as he was inciting hatred.
Although Election Commission rules prohibit aggravating existing differences or creating mutual hatred or tension, Gujarat CEO B B Swain would only say: “We are looking into the matter.”
The rules also bar campaigners and candidates from appealing to caste or communal feelings. Mosques, churches, temples and other places of worship cannot be used for election propaganda.
But at an event at the Vadtal Swaminarayan sect temple on November 4, the chief administrator of the shrine, Maharaj Ghanshyam Prasad Das, appealed to the devotees to vote for the BJP - in the presence of Modi and Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
Asked about this, Swain again parroted: “The commission is looking into it.”
However, the commission acted swiftly and issued a notice to the archbishop of Gandhinagar through the district collector, asking him to explain his intention and aim in writing a letter in which he asked Christians to organise prayer services so that those elected in Gujarat remain faithful to the Indian constitution.
Chief Minister Rupani announced a ban on controversial film Padmavati. Asked if this was not a violation of the code of conduct, Swain again reiterated: “The commission is looking into it.”
The code of conduct clearly states that once elections are announced, ministers and other authorities shall not lay foundation stones for projects or schemes.
But on the last day of campaign on December 12, Modi flew off in a seaplane from the Sabarmati riverfront to Dharoi Dam reservoir to announce the launch of the seaplane service by the central government.
When pointed out that this was a clear violation of the code of conduct, Swain maintained: “The commission is looking into it.”
In sharp contrast, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was swiftly slapped with a notice for giving interviews to Gujarati TV channels on the eve of polling for the second and last phase on December 14.
Narendra Modi
