Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 29
The Election Commission has strongly condemned BJP leader and Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi for her impugned statement in which she elaborated on the “ABCD formula” for dividing villages into categories as per the votes she gets.
In her speech at an election rally in Sarkota village of Sultanpur on April 14, she said that the BJP would carry out development work based on the percentage of votes the party gets from those villages. She described the villages where the BJP gets more than 80 per cent votes as A category, B with over 60 per cent, C with over 50 per cent and D with less than 50 per cent.
Taking cognisance of the statement, the EC in an order said, “Based on the available evidence and material facts in the matter, the EC strongly condemns the impugned statements made by her (on April 14 in Sultanpur’s Sarkoda village) and warns her not to repeat such misconduct in the future.”
The poll panel said Maneka Gandhi not only violated provisions of the model code, but also the Representation of the People Act dealing with “corrupt practice”.
Earlier this month, Maneka stirred controversy by telling a crowd that she would not be inclined to help Muslims if they do not vote for her in the upcoming poll. “I am winning the election…with the help and love of the people. But if I win without help from Muslims, the feelings are soured. Then, when Muslims come seeking jobs, I will think let it be...what difference does it make? After all, jobs are a kind of trade. We are not like Mahatma Gandhi — that we will keep on giving and then, keep getting beaten in elections,” Maneka Gandhi had said.
The EC had then barred her from holding any public meetings, public processions, public rallies, road shows and interviews for two days beginning 10 am on April 16.
Division of villages
- During her speech at a rally in Sarkota village of Sultanpur on April 14, Maneka Gandhi said that the BJP would carry out development work based on the percentage of votes the party gets from those villages
- She described the villages where the BJP gets more than 80% votes as A category, B with over 60%, C with over 50% and D with less than 50%
from The Tribune http://bit.ly/2Wh1Mim
via Today’s News Headlines
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