PM’s ANI Interview Violates Model Code of Conduct: Chhokar, Sarma Write to EC

The joint letter points out the references made by Modi to the Ram Temple and Santan Dharma amounting to appealing to the religious sentiments of voters.

Former professor of IIM-Ahmedabad, Jagdeep S Chhokar and former secretary to the government of India, EAS Sarma, in a joint letter the Election Commissioners, Rajiv Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, have demanded action against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for prima facie violating of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in a recent interview given to news agency ANI.

The joint letter points out the references made by Modi to the Ram Temple and Santan Dharma, “based on misrepresentation of the views of other political parties’ and amounting to appealing to the religious sentiments of voters.

The letter also cites the Prime Minister’s byte on Electoral Bonds in over 67-minute interview, where the PM talks of “transparency” of the scheme (Electoral bond), despite the fact that it was held unconstitutional by the Supreme Court recently. The letter asserts that this statement of the PM will mislead the voters.

The letter also refers to the ANI interview, “as a part of the electioneering campaign of the PM”, adding that it “amounts to the ruling party taking advantage of its sway over the media to gain an undue advantage vis-a-vis the other political parties to secure an electoral advantage over them.”

“It also amounts to the ruling political party misusing a media channel free of cost to convey to the voters many schemes proposed to be introduced, such as a new scheme proposed for corporate political donations, which are not a part of BJP’s election manifesto,” said the letter, urging the three Election Commissioners to take action in the interests of a free and fair electoral process.

Read the full content of the letter below:

To
Shri Rajiv Kumar
Chief Election Commissioner

Shri Gyanesh Kumar
Election Commissioner

Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu
Election Commissioner

Dear Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, S/Shri Gyanesh Kumar/ Rajiv Kumar,

We refer to an interview given by the Prime Minister to the ANI news agency recently, which can be accessed at https://youtu.be/0XLctFnrXTE?si=wMHs2q-5nIOOX4p9.

We feel that the interview prima facie violates the requirements of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) as follows.

The portions of the PM’s interview relating to references to Ayodhya and Sanatana Dharma, based on misrepresentation of the views of other political parties, amount to appealing to the religious sentiments of voters to vote for the ruling political party to the disadvantage of other parties
The PM’s assertion on the so-called “transparency” of the Electoral Bonds scheme, recently held to be illegal by the apex court, is factually incorrect, having the effect of misleading voters
The ANI interview, lasting more than 67 minutes, as a part of the electioneering campaign of the PM, amounts to the ruling party taking advantage of its sway over the media to gain an undue advantage vis-a-vis the other political parties to secure an electoral advantage over them. It also amounts to the ruling political party misusing a media channel free of cost to convey to the voters many schemes proposed to be introduced, such as a new scheme proposed for corporate political donations, which are not a part of BJP’s election manifesto

We request the Election Commission to initiate action against those concerned urgently.

Yours sincerely,
Jagdeep S. Chhokar
Former Professor, IIM (Ahmedabad)
E A S Sarma
Former Secretary to the Government of India