The Election Commission of India has issued a reprimand to BJP MP Dilip Ghosh and Congress leader Supriya Shrinate for their respective derogatory comments aimed at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut.
This stern rebuke comes after both Ghosh and Shrinate responded to notices regarding alleged violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
In its order, the Commission stated that it is convinced that both Ghosh and Shrinate engaged in personal attacks, which clearly violate the provisions outlined in the MCC. They have been cautioned to exercise caution in their public statements during the period governed by the poll code.
The MCC, a set of guidelines aimed at ensuring free and fair elections, prohibits any speech or action that may incite hatred or promote enmity between different groups, or that is derogatory to women.
Moving forward, the poll body will closely monitor their election-related communications.
Additionally, warning notices have been sent to BJP national president JP Nadda and his Congress counterpart Mallikarjun Kharge, urging them to sensitize their party members during public communications and avoid violations of the poll code.
A significant controversy arose after objectionable comments against Kangana Ranaut appeared on Shrinate’s social media accounts. Ranaut is the BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate from the Mandi constituency in Himachal Pradesh. Shrinate removed the posts from all her social media accounts, asserting that they were not posted by her but by someone else who had access to her accounts.
“I deleted the post as soon as I became aware of it. Those who know me also know very well that I would never make personal and indecent comments towards any woman. I wanted to understand how this happened,” she stated.
Ghosh, meanwhile, was captured on video making derogatory remarks about Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee’s family background. He later apologized for his controversial statements against the West Bengal Chief Minister.
Also Read: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal Sent To Judicial Custody Till 15 April
