The Election Commission on Monday barred Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati from holding any public meetings, public processions, public rallies, roadshows, interviews and public utterances in media (electronic, print and social media) for varying periods of time in the run up to the Lok Sabha polls.

While the ban on Adityanath will be in place for three days starting 6 am on April 16, Mayawati is banned for two days from April 16.

The Commission issued a three-page order in which it “strongly condemned and censured” Adityanath and Mayawati for the statement that these leaders made at different rallies in the run up to the Lok Sabha polls.

The condemnation and censure of Adityanath came after the EC found him violating the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and the Representation of People’s Act, by making objectionable statements during a public rally in Meerut on April 9.

The CM acknowledged using the terms ‘ hara virus ’ (green virus) and Bajrang Bali.

“The Commissionis convinced that he has made a highly provocative speech which has the tone and tenor to aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred between different religious communities,” the EC order said.

The Commission also stated that Mayawati accepted that she, in her speech made at a public rally, appealed to the minority community to vote in a consolidated manner in favour of the candidate put up by the coalition.

Later in the day, the Commission also barred Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan from campaigning for 72 hours for his remarks against actor Jaya Prada and BJP leader Maneka Gandhi for 48 hours for her communal remarks.

 

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