Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 6: Expressing shock over the serious allegations levelled by the Leh Press Club against the BJP leaders, who allegedly attempted to bribe the journalists by offering money to influence the Parliamentary elections in Saffron Party’s favour, NPP chairman and former minister Harsh Dev Singh while seeking stringent action against the corrupt leaders called upon ECI to de-recognize BJP.
“It’s a contemptuous mockery of the Model Code of Conduct imposed by ECI. BJP has been overtly using money and muscle power to manipulate the Lok Sabha elections not only in J&K but all across the country. While the Saffron men are unleashed to intimidate the voters, huge illicit money is used to influence the elections,” Harsh Dev said at a press conference here.
Lauding the journalists of Ladakh for their exemplary honesty and professional ethics in exposing the real face of the BJP leaders, Harsh Dev exhorted Election Commission of India to take serious cognizance of the bizarre media bribery case brought to fore by the ‘fouth estate’ itself.
“It’s only a tip of ice-berg and not the sole episode wherein BJP has used the money power to manipulate the elections. During the earlier phases of Lok Sabha polls in the State, Saffron brigade used choppers, hired actors and cricket celebrities, distributed freebies and flaunted hundreds of vehicles fitted with digital audio-visual aids with pomp and show to allure the voters. While crores of rupees were being incurred in raising huge stages and temporary canopies at the rally venues, the people were ferried in vehicles to the sites to create a contrived audience,” Harsh Dev said.
Calling upon ECI to take cue from TN Seshan, the former Election Commissioner of India, Singh recalled that Seshan owned a big stick and spared nobody while swinging it. “He was credited with effectively implementing the Model Code of Conduct for the first time, reining in muscle and money power in elections, filing cases and arresting candidates for not abiding by polling rules, and suspending officials for aligning with candidates. The highly viral report of Saffron leaders offering graft to the media ahead of Ladakh elections is a brazen contravention of the MCC, hence the candidature of the BJP contestant should be immediately cancelled. It’s a litmus test for you now to uphold the sanctity of the poll body”, Harsh pleads ECI.
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