EC censors BJP’s poll advertisement

The BJP is upset with the Election Commission for deleting references to “Congress” and “Central Government” in the party’s poll advertisements prepared for telecasting on television.

After receiving for clearance the BJP’s promotional advertisement containing a message in Kannada by senior party leader Sushma Swaraj on the price rise and inflation, the Election Commission electronically deleted the words “Congress” and “Central Government” and replaced them with beeps, much to the chagrin of the BJP leadership.

An angry BJP leader Arun Jaitley told reporters in Bangalore that the party would register its strong objection to the “inexplicable” act of the Election Commission. “We believe that inflation and escalating prices of daily necessities are of paramount issues before the country. How can the Election Commission prevent us from blaming the Congress and the Central Government for the price rise”, he questioned.

Though the video is being aired on Kannada television channels in the censored form with beeps in the place of Congress and Central Government, Jaitley said the BJP will challenge the Election Commission’s decision at an appropriate forum. The party has already sent a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswamy to register the party’s strong complaint.

“The Election Commission’s order that all references to Central Government and Congress be deleted as if they are unparliamentary expressions is unacceptable to us. Can we blame the local municipality for the price rise”, said Jaitley claiming that the Election Commission’s order violates Article 19 (1) (a) of the Constitution pertaining to Freedom of Speech