ECI Bars Pragya Singh From Campaigning For 72 Hours For Karkare, Babri Remarks [Read Order]

The Election Commission of India has barred Sadhavi Pragya Singh Thakur, the BJP candidate from Bhopal constituency, from campaigning for 72 hours from 6 AM of May 2 for violating model code of conduct.

During this period, she is barred from holding any public meetings, public processions, public rallies, road shows and interviews, public utterances in print, visual and electronic media in any part of the country in connection with the ongoing elections.

The Commission had earlier sent her show cause notice for her controversial remarks that the death of Hemant Karkare, the ATS official who was killed in 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, occurred due to her curse. Karkare had headed the investigation in the Malegaon blasts case, in which Pragya Singh was one of the accused.

She was also pulled up for her claims that she had proudly taken part in the demolition of Babri Masjid.

In her reply, she apologized for remarks against Karkare. She also explained that her remarks on Babri demolition were not intended to hurt religious sentiments.

The poll body found that the comments on Karkare were unwarranted and her explanation for Babri remarks were unsatisfactory. It found the comments to be provocative having the propensity to spread religious hatred among various communities which are not confined to her constituency alone but also to other parts of the country due to the fast dissemination of information.

The ban is imposed invoking powers of ECI under Article 324 of the Constitution of India, after finding that the leaders have violated para 3 and 4 of Part 1 of the General Conduct of Model Code of Conduct for guidance of Political Parties and Candidates.

Earlier, the ECI had imposed bans on Yogi Adithyanath, Mayawati, Maneka Gandhi and Azam Khan for mode code violations.

Read Order