PM Modi's address on Mission Shakti gross misuse of power and machinery: Mayawati
NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Thursday reiterated that the Prime Minister’s address on ‘Mission Shakti’ needed analysis, for which a committee had already been constituted. The Commission said that the report of the committee will come by Friday.
PM Narendra Modi’s announcement about his address to the nation on Wednesday had taken everyone, including the Election Commission, by surprise. Following political reactions to it, the poll panel decided to constitute a committee to look into the matter.
On Thursday, EC officials said that the Commission was not consulted by the PMO about the address by the PM on Wednesday. The broadcasters, including the DD and AIR, also did not consult the EC on the issue. Officials claimed that responses had also been sought from the broadcasters. The committee set up for the purpose has met twice so far.
While the EC is studying whether there was any precedent for such an address, officials hinted that there was hardly any instance in the last 20 years of the PM addressing the nation when the model code of conduct was in force.
Meanwhile, the political reactions continued as BSP president Mayawati lashed out at the PM for “gross misuse of power and machinery” in addressing the nation without prior permission of the Election Commission, and expressed the hope that the poll body would act in an exemplary manner.
“The EC has formed a committee to examine the content of PM’s address yesterday, but the real issue is why & how the PM addressed the country without its prior permission. It is the gross misuse of power & machinery for the electoral benefits. EC must act in an exemplary manner,” the BSP leader tweeted.
“Previous experience proves that like law & order, BJP leaders are habitual offenders in violating Model Code of Conduct. And PM Mr Modi again flouted poll norms by addressing the country without prior permission of EC though there was no such emergency. Hope the EC acts promptly,” she said in another tweet.
EC not consulted by PMO
On Thursday, EC officials said that the Commission was not consulted by the PMO about the address by the PM on Wednesday. The broadcasters, including DD and AIR, also did not consult the EC on the issue. The committee set up for the purpose has met twice so far. While the EC is studying whether there was any precedent for such an address, officials hinted that there was hardly any instance in the last 20 years of the prime minister addressing the nation when the model code of conduct was in force.