EC slaps KCR with a ‘show cause notice, code conduct violation

On the eve of election to 17 Lok Sabha seats, the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) President and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao receives a flak from the Election Commission, which issued a show cause to him, on finding prima facie guilty of allegedly passing derogatory remarks against Hindus, during his one his election meeting at Karimnagar.

He was asked to furnish a reply by April 12 evening, failing which the Commission set to take a decision ‘without any further reference to you”.

A complaint against KCR was filed by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad President M Rama Raju, who alleged the TRS chief in a bid to secure votes had made derogatory remarks against Hindus.

On March 17 meeting, KCR in his usual style said ‘Hindu gaandlu-Bondu gaandlu’, whose custodian apparently the saffron party trying to divide the nation.  His remarks also drawn wide spread protests, especially in social media questioning his and his family DNA.  Some of them turned out to be abusive, but gone viral on social media platforms.

The Commission has produced his remarks in Telugu but did not give English translation of the same.

As a result, the Commission says it find prima facie of the opinion that by making the aforesaid statement which has the potential of disturbing harmony and aggravate existing differences between the social and religious communities.  “It tantamount to whipping up communal feelings and violates the Model Code of Conduct,” the Notice said

The poll panel also reminded KCR that the provision of the poll code, which clearly states that no party or candidate shall indulge in activity, which may vitiate existing differences and also create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic; and prohibits appeal to communal feelings for securing votes.

The model code came into force on March 10, when the schedule for the seven-phased Lok Sabha elections was announced.