In the wake of the controversial “beef ad” by the BJP that appeared in the newspapers across Bihar, the Election Commission has issued a strict advisory.
The EC has directed newspapers as well as the Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar not to publish advertisements “which have the potential of aggravating the differences between different sections of the society.”
The EC has specified that such advertisements are a violation of the model code of conduct and that they cannot be published till the election is over.
However, it has not clearly specified whether the “beef ad” is a violation or if any specific action would be taken against the BJP.
The advertisements can be published only if they are cleared by the state/district level Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC).
The statement came after members of the Grand Alliance approached the Election Commission. The members complained about attempts to “polarise” the election by “promoting communal hatred”.
BJP Defends “Beef Ad”
The BJP, however, defended itself saying this was not the first time that such advertisements had appeared in the state newspapers.
There is nothing wrong in our advertisement on the beef issue. It is asking the chief minister to break his silence on controversial remarks made by the RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, his colleague Raghuvansh Prasad Singh and Karnataka Chief Minister S Siddaramaiah. We were not the first to raise the issue (of beef). It was Lalu who did. We have just responded.
Sushil Kumar Modi, Senior Leader, BJP
The fifth and the final phase of polling in the Bihar assembly elections is scheduled for Thursday.
The Grand Alliance and the BJP have been at loggerheads for months over the election.
(With agency inputs)
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