reviewing poll law(Eds: Adding Cong reaction)New Delhi, Dec 17 (PTI) The Election Commission tonightwithdrew notice to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his TVinterviews during Gujarat polls, and said it will revisit aprovision in the election law under which it was issued.
The poll body had on December 13 issued the show causenotice to Rahul Gandhi for "prima facie" violating theprovisions under the election law and the model code by givinginterviews to TV channels.
While withdrawing the notice, it told the Congress andthe BJP, "The Commission is of the considered view that due tomulti-fold expansion of digital and electronic media, theextant Model Code of Conduct, Section 126 of the RP Act, 1951,and other related provisions require revisiting to cater tothe requirement and challenges of the present and emergingsituations."The poll body also decided to set up a panel to suggestamendments to a provision in the election law barringcampaigning 48 hours ahead of polling, following complaintsthat it has failed to keep pace with information technology.
The order comes in the wake of controversies over PrimeMinister Narendra Modi's FICCI meeting, Rahul Gandhi's TVinterviews and the release of BJP manifesto in Gujarat -- allafter campaigning had ended in the state.
After the EC passed the order, the Congress said if thecommission had issued the notice just to prevent the telecastof Rahul Gandhi's interviews.
Congress communications incharge Randeep Surjewalatweeted, "If Election Commission has withdrawn its noticeissued to Sh. Rahul Gandhi, two bonafide questions must beasked-: 1. Was it a mere ploy to prevent TV channels fromshowing his interview? and 2. Is it a justification for noaction or registration of an FIR against PM & Ministers?"The commission also said that proposed panel to reviewsection 126 of the Representation of the People Act will havemembers drawn from the EC, Information & Broadcasting, law andIT ministries as also National Broadcasters Associations (NBA)and the Press Council of India (PCI).
The commission said Section 126 of the RP Act does nottake into account communication revolution and "it appearsimperative to revisit the provisions relating to the last 48hours before completion of poll to appropriately addresschallenges unleashed by fast changing technologies in thecontext of multi-phase polls."The proposed panel will "examine these provisions in theprevailing context of communication technologies and suggestrequired changes," it said.
It also told the BJP about complaint by the Congress thatmodel code was allegedly violated by the prime minister andunion ministers Arun Jaitley and Piyush Goyal.
Without issuing any directions, the Commission said, "BJPis advised not to make mention of any election matterpertaining to area going for poll during the prohibited periodof 48 hours, henceforth." PTI NAB TIR SCTIR.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.