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MCC violations: Civil society demands action

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: A delegation comprising con - cerned citizens and representatives from various civil society organisations convened with the Chief Election Officer of Karnataka to lodge a formal complaint against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Karnataka branch on Monday.

The complaint alleged violations of the Representation of People’s Act, 1951, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), and pertinent sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), specifically 153A, 505(1)(c), and 505(2).

These violations were attributed to disseminating fake news and hate speech through the BJP Karnataka's official social media handle ("X handle") and newspaper advertisements.

The complaint highlighted a video posted on the BJP Karnataka X handle, insinuating that the Muslim community was unjustly benefiting from public funds at the expense of other communities.

Similarly, a newspaper advertisement propagated false information regarding reservation policies, specifically targeting Muslims.

These actions were deemed as seeking votes on the grounds of religion, contravening electoral laws.

The delegation urged immediate action from the Chief Election Officer, Karnataka, including filing FIRs against key BJP Karnataka officials, temporary suspension of the X handle, removal of offending posts, and penalties against BJP's star campaigner, Narendra Modi.

The Election Commission's response to similar violations by other political figures was cited, emphasising the need for impartial enforcement.

The Chief Election Officer informed the delegation that an FIR had already been registered, and efforts were underway to remove the contentious video.

Representatives from various organisations, including Bahutva Karnataka, All India Lawyers Association for Justice (AILAJ), Campaign Against Hate Speech (CAHS), and People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), were part of the delegation.