The Delhi High Court is set to hear a plea on Friday seeking the disqualification of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from elections for six years. The petitioner alleges that PM Modi violated the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by seeking votes for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the name of religious deities and places of worship during his campaign for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024.
The plea, filed by lawyer Anand S Jondhale, accuses PM Modi of making speeches that have the potential to create hatred among voters on the lines of caste and religion. Jondhale specifically refers to PM Modi’s speech in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, on April 9, where he allegedly sought votes in the name of Hindu and Sikh deities and made comments against opposing political parties as favoring Muslims.
In his April 9 speech, PM Modi had criticized the INDIA bloc leaders for rejecting an invite related to the ‘pran pratistha’ of Lord Ram and had attacked the Congress over its manifesto, likening it to that of the Muslim League.
“The Petitioner further submits that the Respondent No.2 (Prime Minister Modi) is on the run of making the same violative speech throughout India while travelling in aircraft and helicopters of the Government of India,” the plea states.
Jondhale seeks to restrain PM Modi from seeking votes in the name of religious deities and places of worship and also requests the Election Commission to disqualify him from elections for six years under the Representation of Peoples Act.
Jondhale had previously filed a complaint before the Election Commission (EC) regarding the same, but alleges that no action has been taken.
However, reports suggest that PM Modi is likely to receive a clean chit from the EC in this matter. The EC is expected to say that PM Modi’s references to the construction of the Ram Temple, the development of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, and the government’s action of bringing back copies of the Guru Granth Sahib from Afghanistan do not constitute an appeal to vote in the name of religion.