Congress moves EC over alleged MCC violations by BJP

The Congress on Friday moved the Election Commission (EC) against "misutilisation" of government officials in preparation of manifesto by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and demanded action against the party functionaries including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Model of Code of Conduct (MCC) for the Lok Sabha polls has become "Modi Code of Conduct" due to violation of election norms by the BJP, senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi told the media outside the Nirvachan Sadan, the EC headquarters.

"As per the election norms, government officials and machinery cannot be misused during polls. In a leading national daily, the news has appeared today. It shows a government official has asked different government departments to share facts and data to be added in the BJP's manifesto," he said.

Singhvi said the news clippings about the misuse were shared with the BJP.

He shared examples of government officials who sought the facts and data for BJP's manifesto with the EC.

"The information shared by officials can be seen written as it is in the BJP's manifesto. Not even a comma or a full-stop has been changed. What more proof one wants?" he said.

The Congress leader said he asked the EC official to take action in "hours" or in one or two days.

"The action should be taken against the entire BJP machinery and the Prime Minister as it is about BJP's manifesto," Singhvi said.

"If action is not taken, it would encourage other officials and departments to misuse it. So there is urgent need to stop it. The EC has promised us that action will be taken soon.

--IANS

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