NEW DELHI/KOLKATA: Election Commission on Tuesday censured BJP neta and former Calcutta HC judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay for his “low-level personal attack” on West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and debarred him from campaigning for 24 hours from 5 pm on Tuesday.
In a strongly-worded order, EC said the BJP candidate’s statement was a “direct affront on the status of women in India” and he did not “remotely deserve any benefit of doubt”, given his educational and professional background.Sending a copy of the order to BJP president J P Nadda, the poll panel also held the party accountable.
Gangopadhyay’s statement outrightly condemnable: EC
Responding to former Kolkata HC judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay’s “low-level personal attack” on West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Election Commission held the party accountable as it said “this is deemed as a grave failure to enforce one of the basic conducts in the election campaign, even after clear directions from the commission”.
EC referred to its order of April 1 and a copy sent to the BJP president instructing political parties and candidates to “refrain from any deeds/action/utterances that may be construed as being repugnant to the honour and dignity of women”.
EC had served notice to the former judge and sought his response for his derogatory remarks against Banerjee. He responded to the EC notice on Monday.
After going through his response, EC, in its order said it was “convinced that Gangopadhyay has made a low-level attack and thus violated provisions of model code of conduct”.
Observing that the BJP leader committed “violation to a worse degree”, the poll body said women have commanded highest respect in Indian society. It said the Constitution and all institutions have constantly pursued the ideas and ideals of ensuring the rights and dignity of women on all fronts and further empowering them.
The poll panel, in its four-page order, said Gangopadhyay’s statement was “outrightly condemnable when used in respect of any woman, not to speak of a senior political leader and holder of a constitutional position, who he has targeted”. It added that the BJP leader had “brought damage and disrepute to the state of West Bengal that has a distinguished tradition of respect for women”.
In a strongly-worded order, EC said the BJP candidate’s statement was a “direct affront on the status of women in India” and he did not “remotely deserve any benefit of doubt”, given his educational and professional background.Sending a copy of the order to BJP president J P Nadda, the poll panel also held the party accountable.
Gangopadhyay’s statement outrightly condemnable: EC
Responding to former Kolkata HC judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay’s “low-level personal attack” on West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Election Commission held the party accountable as it said “this is deemed as a grave failure to enforce one of the basic conducts in the election campaign, even after clear directions from the commission”.
EC referred to its order of April 1 and a copy sent to the BJP president instructing political parties and candidates to “refrain from any deeds/action/utterances that may be construed as being repugnant to the honour and dignity of women”.
EC had served notice to the former judge and sought his response for his derogatory remarks against Banerjee. He responded to the EC notice on Monday.
After going through his response, EC, in its order said it was “convinced that Gangopadhyay has made a low-level attack and thus violated provisions of model code of conduct”.
Observing that the BJP leader committed “violation to a worse degree”, the poll body said women have commanded highest respect in Indian society. It said the Constitution and all institutions have constantly pursued the ideas and ideals of ensuring the rights and dignity of women on all fronts and further empowering them.
The poll panel, in its four-page order, said Gangopadhyay’s statement was “outrightly condemnable when used in respect of any woman, not to speak of a senior political leader and holder of a constitutional position, who he has targeted”. It added that the BJP leader had “brought damage and disrepute to the state of West Bengal that has a distinguished tradition of respect for women”.