EC censures Kejriwal over 'communal hatred' remark

The Election Commission Friday censured AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal for his remarks accusing the BJP of spreading communal hatred in the capital and asked him to be circumspect in his comments in future.

The poll panel, which had issued notice to Kejriwal Jan 17 following a complaint by the Bharatiya Janata Party's Delhi unit chief Satish Upadhyay, said the Aam Aadmi Party leader's comments violated the model code of conduct.

According to the report of the Chief Electoral Officer, Kejriwal had said: "The BJP has been responsible for inciting communal riots in various parts of Delhi in the recent past."

The notice said: "Now, therefore, the commission hereby conveys its displeasure and censures you (Kejriwal) for the above violation of the model code of conduct and expects you to be more circumspect in your public utterances in future."

In the commission's views, Kejriwal's statement had the effect of aggravating existing differences or creating mutual hatred or causing tension between different castes and communities.

The commission also noted that Kejriwal has not denied his statement in his reply submitted before the poll panel Jan 22.

The Delhi assembly polls would be held Feb 7 and votes will be counted Feb 10.