Union Minister for Women & Child Development Maneka Gandhi, on Friday, 12 April, clarified on a communal remark made by her during an election campaign in Sultanpur and said a certain media channel played an “out of context” and “incomplete” part of her speech.
“I had called a meeting of our minority cell. A channel is running that one sentence out of context and incomplete.”Maneka Gandhi
On Saturday, 13 April, CNN-News18 reported that Maneka has lashed out at the BJP IT Cell, saying that it did noting to counter the 'distorted’ speech. “If IT Cell can't intervene in such matters, what is the use of having it,” she reportedly said.
Meanwhile, BR Tiwari, Additional Chief Election Officer, said, “The EC has taken cognisance of the matter. District Magistrate, Sultanpur has issued a show-cause notice to her and a report has been sent to EC.”
Gandhi, while campaigning in Uttar Pradesh’s Sultanpur on Thursday, 11 April, was recorded on camera ‘pressurising’ members of the Muslim community to vote for her or else ‘she may not work towards fulfilling their needs when she wins’.
Gandhi, the MP from Pilibhit, said that she had “already won” the upcoming Lok Sabha poll and attempted to coerce the Muslim members of the audience attending her rally ‘to decide’ if they want her to work for them.
Videos of her Sultanpur campaign event have been doing the rounds on social media. The Quint was able to independently verify the veracity of the video from local sources.
The same event was also covered by a local media channel:
A video of the event was also shared by an independent YouTube vlogger on 11 April and on Twitter.
“I am winning... I am winning because of the support of the people. But, if my win is sans the support of Muslims... then I wouldn’t feel too good... things will then turn sour. In such a scenario, if a Muslim comes to me for work, I will not be inclined to do it... I’ll think ‘how does it matter?’. A job is about give and take... it’s not like we all are Mahatma Gandhi’s children,” Gandhi said at the rally.
“I will win even without you... but you need me. When the results come out, and I see that this booth voted only 50-100 times... I will be pained. So, it is all up to you,” she added.
Clear Violation of MCC?
The General Rules of the Model Code of Conduct imposed by the Election Commission of India (EC) clearly state that, “There shall be no appeal to caste or communal feelings for securing votes.”
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