‘Grow A Spine or Resign’ Civil society groups tell Election Commission
Bengaluru (Press Release): Several groups concerned with democratic rights undertook a joint campaign to hold the ECI accountable for its inaction against violations of the MCC and laws during the Lok Sabha elections.
On Saturday, a joint complaint was submitted through the offices of the Chief Electoral Officers in different cities like Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Hyderabad and others, and a letter was also submitted to the office of the Chief Election Commissioner in Delhi. This collective of organisations and concerned citizens also undertook a postcard campaign in which hundreds of postcards were sent to ECI, Delhi from various cities containing the image of a spine - thereby demanding the Election Commission to ‘Grow A Spine or Resign’.
The issues in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections highlighted by the group in the letter submitted are:
1) Voter turnout data shared only in percentages and not in numbers, raising concerns about manipulation of vote count
In 2019, reports indicated discrepancies between votes polled and votes counted in the Lok Sabha elections in 373 constituencies, including a surplus of more than 18,000 in Kancheepuram, 14,512 in Sriperumbudur, etc. So far the ECI has not explained the discrepancy. This time around, the ECI has refused to share the data about votes polled, instead sharing only the percentage of votes polled. This is leading to fears of vote counts being manipulated
2) Failure to combat hate speech during elections
Mr. Modi has made several speeches which pit communities against one another and promote hatred between communities on religious lines. This amounts to a violation of the Model Code of Conduct, amounts to a corrupt practice under the Representation of People’s Act and is a violation of the ECIs advisory to political parties. So far Mr.Modi, who is a star campaigner has not even been served a notice. Similarly, BJP has released several videos which are again spreading hatred.In Karnataka, an FIR was registered over the hate filled video, but it was not taken down till the voting got done in Karnataka. No action has been taken against the BJP for using religious symbols, or for all their hate speeches. No action has been taken against the BJP for distorting points from opposition parties' manifestos as well. BJP leaders have done this in speeches, BJP has issued ads which distorted information but faced no punitive action.
3) Acting only against MCC violations by opposition parties but letting the ruling party of the hook
Mr.RandeepSurjewala of the Congress, Mr.K.Chandrashekhar Rao of the BRS have been banned from campaigning for 48 hours over MCC violations. But more serious violations by the BJP have been ignored.
4) Failure to take action against surrogate ads
It has been reported that the expenditure on surrogate advertising and targeted online campaigns by political actors to influence voter perception and beliefs are not under adequate scrutiny. The ECI must ensure accountability of political parties and digital platforms by adopting rights-based standards for regulating political expenditure on online ads and targeted campaigning. The ECI has also failed to disclose any action taken on such surrogate advertisements.
Although it has earlier been brought to the attention of your office the manner in which technology affects electoral outcomes including use of deepfakes and voter surveillance, the ECI has not responded or taken adequate action to secure these violations.
5) Failure to address the withdrawal of candidates, threats to candidates
Several candidates have reported threats by the BJP - In Gandhinagar and elsewhere. Some candidates have switched over to the BJP at the last minute. In Surat and Indore, there were no elections held and winners declared. This is a subversion of democracy. Threatening a candidate or promising incentives to withdraw are corrupt practices under the Representation of People Act. However, ECI has neither conducted any inquiry not taken any action
Therefore, the following organisations joined hands to undertake a national level campaign on May 11th, across several cities. Along with these organisations, the letter was signed by 222 people from various walks of life, including lawyers, activists, filmmakers, academics and concerned citizens.
- People’s Union for Civil Liberties
- National Alliance for People's Movements
- Bahutva Karnataka
- All India Lawyers Association for Justice
- Shramik Mukti Dal
- Young Leaders of Active Citizenship
- Bharat BachaoAndolan
- Prashant
- Hate Speech Beda
- New Trade Union Initiative
- Indian Muslims for Secular Democracy
- Citizens for the Constitution
- The Bombay Catholic Sabha
- Centre for promoting Democracy
- PaniHaq Samiti
- NaavedduNilladiddare
- Association for Protection of Civil Rights
- Fridays for Future
- Delhi Solidarity Group
- Eddelu Karnataka
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Congress using hijab issue to pacify minority anger, alleges Karnataka LoP R Ashoka
Bengaluru: Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashoka has accused the Congress government of using the hijab issue to placate what he described as discontent among minority voters after the Davanagere by-election.
In a post on X on Wednesday, Ashoka alleged that the state government, instead of addressing issues such as price rise, corruption, farmers’ distress and law and order, was attempting to retain its minority vote base by reviving the hijab issue.
Referring to the 2022 dress code introduced by the BJP government, which prohibited hijab in schools and colleges, Ashoka said the Karnataka High Court had upheld the policy and emphasised the importance of discipline in educational institutions.
He questioned the Congress government’s move to revisit the issue and asked whether setting aside the court-backed policy to benefit one community could be described as secularism.
Ashoka further alleged that while the government was willing to permit hijab, it continued to prohibit saffron shawls.
He accused the government of dividing students on religious lines rather than treating schools and colleges as spaces of equality.
Drawing a comparison with Mamata Banerjee’s government in West Bengal, Ashoka claimed that excessive appeasement politics had harmed the state and warned that the Congress in Karnataka could face a similar political response.
He said voters in Karnataka would teach the Congress a lesson for what he termed “vote-bank politics” and for compromising constitutional and judicial principles.
