The Hindu : Front Page : Report sought from DGP on Samajotsava

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 21, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Front Page

Front Page

Report sought from DGP on Samajotsava

Special Correspondent

BJP declares support to the convention and says it will go on

‘Action will be taken based on the police report’
‘Samajotsava has been videographed’

BANGALORE: The controversy over the Hindu Samajotsava being organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad ahead of the Lok Sabha elections took a new turn with the Chief Electoral Officer seeking a report from the Director-General and Inspector-General of Police on the allegations of violation of the model code of conduct at these conventions.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party broke its silence on the issue on Friday by expressing moral support to the Samajotsava and declaring that these conventions would go on according to schedule.

Chief Electoral Officer M.N. Vidyashankar told presspersons here on Friday that action regarding complaints pertaining to the violation of the model code of conduct would be taken based on the police report.

He said the Samajotsava had been videographed by the Election Commission. Sources said the commission would look into whether religion or religious places were used for seeking votes. The Opposition parties, particularly the Janata Dal (S), have taken exception to the Samajotsava while contending that seeking votes on the basis of religion amounts to violation of the model code of conduct. The Janata Dal (S) has filed a complaint in this connection with the Chief Electoral Officer.

The Janata Dal (S) and the Congress have taken exception to the incidents of communal violence in the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi following the Samajotsava in Mangalore on March 15.

Meanwhile, the BJP has defended the Samajotsava. The party leaders said that there was no bar on holding such conventions in the country and that it would not amount to violation of the model code of conduct. They said the Opposition parties were trying to use the issue to divide the people on the lines of religion.

According to sources, the decision to organise the Samajotsava was taken at the national executive of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangha in Nagpur last year in a bid to “consolidate the Hindu vote-bank” ahead of elections. As per the original plans, these conventions should have been completed by March 15.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page