On the 1st of May, the Election Commission of India (ECI) barred Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member Pragya Sadhvi, from campaigning for the next 72 hours. The temporary ban was issued because of Pragya’s remarks about the Babri Mosque demolition and because of the controversial remarks she made about the former Anti Terrorism Squad Chief, Hemanth Karkare.
According to the poll body, Pragya’s comment about being proud of the Babri Mosque demolition was in violation of the Model Code of Conduct. While issuing the ban, the EC said it strongly condemned the comments made by Pragya and asked the BJP leader to not perpetrate such misconduct.
This ban is going to come into force from 6.00 A.M., on the 2nd of May and is going to last for the next 72 hours. Apart from chastising Sadhvi for her comments about the Babri Masjid, the EC held her in contempt for saying Karkare was killed during the 26/11 blasts because of her curse. In her comments about the former ATS chief, Sadhvi said she cursed him because he tortured her while questioning her in relationship to the Malegaon blasts.
This is not the only complaint filed against Sadhvi. Ever since she filed her nomination papers from Bhopal, she made several controversial comments, a feat which is putting the BJP under a bad light. The Indian National Congress (INC) filed a complaint against her, saying she was buying votes and was using the Indian Army’s name to further her voting game.
The Bhopal constituency is a hot spot for the BJP and since the year 1989, the party won elections in the area 8 times in a row. Sadhvi is contesting against INC leader, Digvijay Singh.
Voting for the 29 seats of Madhya Pradesh are going to be held across four phases, with one poll already held on the 29th of April. The remaining three polls are going to be opened on the 6th of May, 12th of May and 19th of May.
Polls for Bhopal will open on the 12th of May.
Stay tuned for more updates.
