Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Apr 27: The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee has filed a complaint with the Election Commission against Bharatiya Janata Party for ‘defamatory and character assassination advertisements’ which is a violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
Sharing the complaint letter dated April 26, 2018 on its official twitter handle, Karnataka Congress said that the advertisements issued by BJP, make direct allegations on the Chief Minister without any foundation or basis whatsoever. “The advertisements allege that the government has turned Karnataka to hell and that the government is responsible for breaking up society, death of farmers and not stopping murders of ‘patriots’ amongst an array of allegations”.
The complaint letter also points out that TV advertisements makes explicit use of the Chief Minister’s likeness and position by using an actor, who is clearly representing to be the Chief Minister, is sitting on a chair having the words ‘CM’ written on its back. Thereafter, the actor is shown wearing a heavy gold watch and handing gifts to various individuals. The subtitle text in the advertisements clearly attributes these gifts as allegations of corruption in state government scheme such as solar power tender, KPC coal mine tender, BBMP garbage clearance tender etc.
“The defamatory and character assassinating advertisements which have absolutely no basis in fact and are in gross violation of the norms laid down by the Honourable Supreme Court of India and by the Election Commission of India,” states the letter.
“In fact, the advertisements are made even more shocking by virtue of the fact that all political advertisements (print or electronic) have been pre-certified with regard to the content, by the Media certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) as per the directions of the Supreme Court. That is the duty of the MCMC to not only certify but also monitor political advertisements to ascertain that the advertisements are not violating any provisions of the MCC and other laws,” it reads.
KPCC has also alleged dereliction of duty by the MCMC and asks Election Commission to take strict action against the officials who authorized the release and broadcast of such advertisements.
“The MCMC ought to have disallowed screening and publishing of such advertisements when these advertisements were sent for scrutiny and approval. It is regretfully stated that the MCMC has failed in its duty to weed out such distasteful and obnoxious advertisements despite appropriate mechanisms of pre-certification and scrutinization of political advertisements in place,” it stated.
Further, the letter points out the advertisements issued by the BJP carry photographs of PM Narendra Modi, BJP National President Amit Shah, BJP Karnataka State President B S Yeddyurappa which cannot be done without the approval of these leaders. “It is also to be noted that even the media without verifying the veracity of these contentions and allegations publish the so called advertisement which misled the voters and tarnish the prospectus of the INC candidates,” the letter reads.
Demanding strict action for the violation of the Model Code of Conduct, the Karnataka Congress has prayed to the Election Commission to call all the relevant advertisement from the BJP and direct concerned authorities to prosecute Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Yeddyurappa and others responsible for such advertisements.
It has also asked EC to direct the print and electronic media not to publish and telecast such advertisements by the BJP and direct Income Tax authority to investigate source of money towards the advertisements and take appropriate action.