New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) issued a showcause notice to Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday over alleged poll code violation.
In an election campaign rally in Chhattisgarh last week, Biswa Sarma allegedly targeted the state’s lone Muslim minister Mohammad Akbar and made communally-charged remarks, according to a complaint by the Congress party.
The Election Commission said certain parts of the BJP leader’s speech that he delivered last week have been found to be “prima facie violative” of provisions of Model Code of Conduct and Representation of the People Act, 1951.
“Now, therefore, you are hereby called upon to show cause by 17.00 hrs of 30th October’2023 (Monday) as to why appropriate action for violation of Model Code of Conduct should not be taken against you,” the notice read.
During his speech in Chhattisgarh’s Kawardha on October 18, Biswa Sarma took a swipe at the Congress minister.
“The land of Mata Kaushalya will get defiled if Akbar isn’t sent off… If one Akbar comes to some place, he calls 100 Akbars. So, send him off as soon as possible, otherwise the land of Mata Kaushalya will get defiled,” the Assam CM reportedly said.
Mata Kaushalya, the mother of Lord Ram, is believed to be from what is modern-day Chhattisgarh.