The Election Commission (EC) has barred BJP Lok Sabha candidate from Bhopal constituency, Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur from election campaigning for three days due to the remarks made by her about Babri Masjid demolition. The ban which will come into effect from 6 am tomorrow, has been imposed by the EC for violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by Sadhvi.
EC bars BJP Bhopal candidate Pragya Singh Thakur from campaigning for three days starting 6 am tomorrow. Thakur’s remark that she is proud of Babri Masjid’s demolition was found violative of the Model Code of Conduct. pic.twitter.com/DMHoF7uR7I
— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2019
Sadhvi had acknowledged that she had played an instrumental role in the demolition of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992, and that she was proud of it. In an interview, Sadhvi had said that there were some waste products (referring to Babri Masjid) on Ram temple so they removed it. She added that Ram Mandir will be built at the disputed site in Ayodhya. She was served a notice by the EC for making those remarks about Babri Masjid demolition.
“The Commission has carefully gone through the contents and averments made in the aforesaid reply of Sadhavi Pragya Singh Thakur and found it provocative and also on religious lines that have the propensity of spreading hatred among various communities”, the EC said in its order. The order said that “Commission has barred her from holding any public meetings, public processions, public rallies, road shows and interviews, public utterances in media (Electronic, print, social media)in connection with ongoing elections for 72 hours starting 6 am on 2 May 2019.”
Earlier, Sadhi had levelled allegations against former Anti-terror Squad (ATS) chief Late Hemant Karkare of subjecting her to extreme custodial torture. However, following the controversy over her remarks on Karkare she had to apologise. Despite her apology, an FIR was also registered against her by a Congress leader. She was also served a notice by the EC for her remarks on Karkare.
The Election Commission warned Sadhvi not to repeat the misconduct in the future. The EC order says that the poll body did not find the explanations provided by Sadhvi satisfactory and that she has violated the MCC.
Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur is contesting against Congress candidate Digvijay Singh from Bhopal, where the polls will take place on 12th May during the 6th phase of the elections.
