Author: Pioneer News Service
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: April 9, 2009
URL: http://www.dailypioneer.com/168375/EC-gives-excuses-for-inaction.html
Hate speech CDs, Maneka complaint
With the Election Commission yet to decide
the case of Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav's inflammatory speech to run
a "roller" on Varun Gandhi, BJP Member of Parliament from Pilibhit,
Maneka Gandhi on Wednesday lodged a complaint accusing Lalu of insult and
criminal intimidation. The EC is also considering cases against former Bihar
Chief Minister Rabri Devi, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, BJP leader Jaswant
Singh and Andhra Congress chief D Srinivas for model code of conduct violations.
The fresh case against Lalu for his alleged
remarks that he would have "crushed" Varun Gandhi under a roller
for his anti-Muslim speeches came after Maneka found the comments "derogatory"
and complained to the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Badaun (Uttar
Pradesh) to take action. The matter was later transferred by UP Police to
Bihar Police since the cause of action arose in Bihar.
"As this matter (making remarks) does
not belong to Badaun or our State we have forwarded the complaint to Bihar
Police for further action", Additional Director General, Law and Order
Brij Lal informed mediapersons.
In her complaint, the MP and Varun's mother
said, "RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav has threatened to kill Varun Gandhi
by crushing him with a roller in front of a crowd of thousands of people and
used derogatory words."
Stating that she came to know about the speech
during her visit to Badaun, Maneka demanded a complaint to be lodged against
Lalu Prasad Yadav under sections 504 (insult intended to provoke breach of
peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC and sought his immediate arrest.
Addressing an election meeting in Kishanganj
in Bihar on Monday, the Railway Minister had said, "Had I been country's
Home Minister, I would have crushed Varun Gandhi under the roller and destroyed
him without caring for the consequences, for his hate speech against Muslims."
Following the comments, the Kishanganj district administration had filed an
FIR against Lalu accusing him of attempting to create communal disturbance.
While the Commission had been prompt in acting
against Varun - it took just three days after the young leader's alleged hate
speech to advise the BJP to deny him the party ticket - it has apparently
been taking its time to decide on Lalu, Rabri and Srinivas.
After two days of the speech, the EC on Wednesday
said it had received the tapes containing Lalu's speech and was in the process
of examining them. On being asked about the status of the complaint against
Lalu, Deputy Election Commissioner R Balakrishnan said, "The CEO has
confirmed that a complaint has been received by the SP, Badaun. He is in the
process of sending a report to the Commission."
But with the three-member Commission being
unavailable, with Chief Election Commissioner on leave and another Election
Commissioner on election tour, Balakrishnan hinted at a possible delay in
sending out notices to the RJD supremo.
Speaking to mediapersons, Balakrishnan said,
"The Chief Election Commissioner is on leave and one of the Election
Commissioners is on tour. We will be able to inform (the press) as and when
the decision is taken by the full Commission." He confirmed that the
tapes containing both Lalu's speech and his wife and former Bihar Chief Minister
Rabri Devi had been reviewed. Rabri had come under scanner for use of abusive
language against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. An FIR in this regard
is already pending against her in Bihar.
Meanwhile, the Deputy EC further informed
that it had received replies from Home Minister P Chidambaram and senior BJP
leader Jaswant Singh. "Both replies are being examined by the Commission,"
he said. While Chidambaram was served with notice for allegedly offering poll
sops during a visit to Rajasthan for a security review meeting, BJP leader
Jaswant Singh came under scanner for distributing cash during a public meeting
in Rajasthan's Barmer district, where his son Manvendra Singh is contesting
elections.
Balakrishnan, while responding to a question
on AP Congress unit chief D Srinivas' provocative speech said that the Commission
had received the copy of CD from the Andhra Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer
and is under consideration. At a public function at Nizamabad, Srinivas had
said that he would "sever" the hands of those who point a finger
at minorities. Holding this statement highly objectionable, the Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP) sought to hold him guilty of model code violation for hurting
religious sentiments of the majority community.
