New Delhi: Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “seeking votes on the basis of religion”, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday urged the Election Commission to ban the Prime Minister from campaigning in poll-bound Karnataka. Speaking at a press conference in Jaipur, CM Gehlot said, “PM Modi is seeking votes on the basis of religion in violation of the Election Commission guidelines. He should be barred from poll campaigning.”
Taking potshots at PM Modi, he further said, “Read the law… if someone talks in the name of religion, on religious grounds in the election campaign, ban should be imposed. His (Modi) election stands rejected.”
#WATCH | Jaipur | On religious slogans being used in #KarnatakaAssemblyElection campaigning, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot says, “Election Commission should ban Prime Minister Narendra Modi from campaigning in the election. You can read the law. Will someone invoke religion during… pic.twitter.com/1vFCUqJF3M
— ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) May 6, 2023
Responding to the ongoing row over the Congress manifesto in Karnataka, that talks about taking decisive action as per law, including imposing a ban on organisations such as the Popular Front of India (PFI) and the Bajrang Dal, CM Ashok Gehlot said, “Whatever may be the name of an organisation… the real question is what is the role of that organisation.”
It is to be noted that in its election manifesto for the Karnataka polls, the Congress said that it was committed to take firm and decisive action against individuals and outfits such as the Bajrang Dal and the Popular Front of India “spreading hatred” among communities on the basis of caste and religion. The action will include a “ban” against such organisations, the Congress has said.
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The Rajasthan Chief Minister further said that the saffron party has failed to polarise Karnataka and the real issues ailing the southern state are inflation and unemployment.
The Karnataka Assembly election is scheduled for May 10 and the counting of votes will take place on May 13.