New Delhi: The Samajwadi Party and the Congress yesterday opposed the Election Commission’s decision to revoke a ban on campaigning and public rallies by BJP general secretary Amit Shah, raking up a controversy.
The Samajwadi Party (SP) accused the Election Commission of working at the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party, while the Congress said both Shah and senior SP leader Azam Khan, who too was banned from holding public meetings, were equally communal.
The two leaders were banned by the EC from electioneering at public rallies for their hate speeches, invoking religious sentiments.
However, in a statement released late Thursday, the poll panel said the ban on Shah has been modified and while he would be allowed to hold rallies, these would be closely monitored.
The move came after Shah’s apology to the poll panel.
“I undertake on oath that I shall not use abusive or derogatory language in the campaign and shall not make any utterances violative of MCC (Model Code of Conduct),” Shah said in his apology letter to the commission.
Kejriwal faces barrage of stones in Varanasi
Varanasi: Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal faced a barrage of stones and brickbats thrown at him by over a dozen youth shouting “Har Har Modi, Ghar Ghar Modi” slogans near the Banaras Hindu University campus on Thursday evening, police and eyewitnesses said.
One unidentified youth was arrested.
Kejriwal was on his door-to-door campaign when the attack took place while he was at the famous Keshav Paan shop at Lanka around 8pm.
IANS
