The Election Commission of India on Friday, 29 March, ruled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mission Shakti address was not a violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
The decision was taken by a committee of officers who found that “the MCC provision regarding misuse of official mass media” is not attracted in this case.
“It is clear that Doordarshan has only used the feed provided by ANI. The All India Radio has taken audio output as broadcast by Doordarshan News for dissemination over All India Radio network,” the statement from the EC read.
The committee under a deputy election commissioner was set up on Wednesday, with an EC spokesperson saying the poll panel had directed a committee of officers to "examine the matter immediately in the light of the Model Code of Conduct".
However, sources in the poll panel cited by PTI had said, issues related to national security and disaster management do not fall under the ambit of the model code, which came into force on 10 March when the Lok Sabha election schedule was announced.
The EC reportedly had “internal consultation” on the prime minister’s address after which the watchdog decided to seek information on the circumstances and urgency, reported The Indian Express.
‘Gross Violation of MCC’: Mamata Banerjee
Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Modi's announcement of India's anti-satellite missile capability on Wednesday was “limitless drama and publicity mongering”, amounting to “gross violation” of the Model Code of Conduct.
The prime minister made the announcement ahead of the Lok Sabha polls to “reap political benefits,” the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo said.
"There is no great urgency in conducting and announcing the mission now by a government past its expiry date. It seems a desperate oxygen to save the imminent sinking of the BJP boat. We are lodging a complaint with the Election Commission," she had said.
‘India Now an Elite Space Power’
Addressing the nation on the demonstration of India's anti-satellite missile capability, the prime minister said India had joined an exclusive club of space superpowers by shooting down a live satellite, describing it as a rare achievement.
"In the journey of every nation there are moments that bring utmost pride and have a historic impact on generations to come. One such moment is today," he said in an unprecedented broadcast to the nation on television, radio and social media.
This is what he tweeted later.
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