Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati has called the Election Commission (EC) order which has barred her from campaigning for 48 hours starting from 6 a.m. tomorrow, as a one-sided decision. She said that there was no allegation of delivering a provocative speech in the April 11 show-cause-notice of the EC and that it only had the allegation of asking for votes in the name of one community.
BSP chief Mayawati on EC banning her from election campaigning for 48 hours starting from 6 am tomorrow: EC has given a one-sided decision. I have been denied the fundamental right of freedom of speech and expression. This day will be known as a black day in the history of EC. pic.twitter.com/3N9bHfCig9
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 15, 2019
Addressing a press conference, she alleged that she has been deprived of her fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression. She even went on to say that the day will be remembered as a Black day in the history of EC. The BSP supremo blatantly denied having asked for votes in the name of religion despite there being video evidence for it.
BREAKING: चुनाव आयोग की पाबंदी पर @Mayawati की प्रेस कॉन्फ्रेंस, मायावती ने कहा- चुनाव आयोग के कारण बताओ नोटिस में भड़काऊ भाषण का जिक्र नहीं था. इस नोटिस का जवाब मैंने दिया. मैंने जाति-धर्म के आधार पर वोट नहीं मांगा, मैंने किसी की धार्मिक भावनाओं को नहीं भड़काया. pic.twitter.com/4hlYCEfGgi
— ABP न्यूज़ हिंदी (@abpnewshindi) April 15, 2019
In the video, Mayawati was clearly seen asking Muslim voters during a rally in Saharanpur not to split their vote by supporting the Congress Lok Sabha candidate and instead consolidate their vote in the favour of SP-BSP-RLD alliance candidate. She even accused the EC of having an anti-Dalit mindset. Calling the EC order as unconstitutional and cruel, she appealed to voters to turn in larger numbers than expected.
Mayawati has even accused the EC of not taking any action against PM Modi for asking votes in the name of martyrs. She even warned that when she comes back to form the government, she will ‘pay back with interest’.
The Election Commission has also imposed a 72-hour ban on Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath for his ‘Bajrangbali’ remark along with a 48 ban on BJP leader Maneka Gandhi. Senior SP Azam Khan has also been banned from campaigning for 72 hours following his ‘underwear‘ remark against BJP Lok Sabha candidate Jaya Prada.
