Congress claims SEC took cognisance of its complaint against Fadnavis
Mumbai (PTI): The Congress on Saturday claimed that the Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) has taken cognisance of its complaint alleging violation of the Model Code of Conduct by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
SEC sources said they had received a complaint from the Congress, but did not confirm if any action was taken on it.
According to the Congress, the complaint concerns an interview given by Fadnavis to a private television channel on January 2 while travelling on the Mumbai Metro.
State Congress general secretary Dhananjay Shinde said in a release the party had objected to the interview as it amounted to the “misuse of public transport facilities and violation of model code”.
Shinde said the Congress submitted a “final reminder” to the State Election Commissioner on January 9, highlighting “key issues, video evidence and relevant legal provisions” linked to the alleged model code violation.
After a preliminary scrutiny of the complaint and supporting material, the SEC has forwarded the matter to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation for further action, he claimed. The Commission has informed BMC officials through an official email, a copy of which has also been sent to the complainant, said Shinde.
The Congress said the complaint raises “serious concerns”, including alleged use of public transport facilities such as the Mumbai Metro for election campaigning, possible misuse of government machinery, deployment of disproportionate security, and a promotional-style interview conducted in the presence of the media ahead of the January 15 civic polls.
“These issues directly affect the fairness of the election process, equal opportunity for all candidates and democratic values,” Shinde said.
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Karnataka Governor gives assent to legislation against ‘honour killing’ in inter-caste marriages
Bengaluru: The government has brought into force the Karnataka Freedom of Choice in Marriage and Prevention and Prohibition of Crimes in the name of honour and tradition (Eva Nammava Eva Nammava) Act, 2026, intended to restrict ‘honour killings’ in inter-caste marriages.
According to The Indian Express, the legislation received assent from Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot on April 9 and was officially notified in the state gazette on April 10. The law had been passed unanimously by the state legislature last month.
The Bill was proposed by the Congress government in the wake of caste-linked ‘honour killings’ in the state, including the December 21, 2025, murder near Hubli of a 20-year-old Lingayat woman by her father for marrying a man from another caste.
The phrase ‘Eva Nammava Eva Nammava’ in the title is in reference to the message of universal humanity that the Lingayat saint Basavanna espoused. Basavanna, who rebelled against the caste system to lay the foundation of the Lingayat faith system, an amalgamation of all castes, used the words meaning ‘he is a part of me’ to say all people are one.
Under the new law, crimes committed in the name of ‘honour’, including murder, assault, threats, and social boycott, are specifically addressed with stringent punishments. ‘Honour killing’ offences carry a minimum imprisonment of five years, while serious assaults attract at least three years in jail.
The new law defines the social boycott of inter-caste couples as forcible eviction to remote corners of villages, refusal to provide services, refusal to provide work, refusal to conduct business, denial of loans and admissions to schools, and makes it punishable.
In the case of ‘honour killings’ per se, the new law prescribes a minimum imprisonment of five years, and in the case of assaults, a prison term that is not less than three years for serious injury and two years for minor injuries.
The offences under the proposed law are cognisable and non-bailable, which means police can carry out arrests without court permissions after taking up a case.
The legislation follows several reported inter-caste relationship-related killings in Karnataka in 2025, including cases in Raichur and another involving 18-year-old Kavita.
The law to protect the freedom of choice in marriages is among several social bills that the Congress government has brought out in line with its policies for the backward and downtrodden communities in the state.
