Navjot Singh Sidhu Faces 3-Day Campaign Ban For 'Vote En Bloc' Appeal to Muslims in Bihar
A case was also registered against the Congress leader for allegedly violating the model code of conduct (MCC) during the rally.
Chandigarh, April 22: The Election Commission of India has barred Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu from holding any public meeting, road show, public rally and interviews in media in connection with ongoing elections, for 72 hours. The ban on Sidhu will be effective from the morning of Tuesday, April 23, 2019. The campaigning ban comes days after Sidhu's appeal to Muslim voters asking them to unite in order to throw out PM Narendra Modi from power.
The Election Commission issued the notice over violation of Model Code of Conduct by the Punjab Minister. The poll body condemned the statements made by him during election campaign held at Barsoi and Barari of Katihar District in Bihar.
The Punjab Minister had appealed the Muslim voters, who form nearly 65 percent of the constituency's electorate, to vote en bloc in favour of Congress in the Lok Sabha elections 2019.
Read Sidhu's Remark in Hindi in the Tweet Below:
A case was also registered against the Congress leader for allegedly violating the model code of conduct (MCC) during the rally. The ban followed the case and outrage over his remarks.
Sidhu was canvassing in support of veteran Congress leader and former union minister Tariq Anwar when he made the controversial remarks. However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) condemned Sidhu’s remarks. BJP state party vice-president Devesh Kumar told PTI, “We strongly condemn the remarks made by Navjot Singh Sidhu. His comments appear to be in sync with the Congress policy of minority appeasement and a consequence of the party's worry of an impending defeat.”
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 22, 2019 11:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).