EC to BJP, Congress: Avoid divisive rhetoric on caste, religion, language

The Election Commission, on Wednesday, issued a stern warning to both the ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress. The Commission urged both parties to refrain from campaigning that could potentially stir up divisions based on caste, community, language, or religion.

The Commission said that the diverse socio-cultural landscape of the country should not be compromised for electoral gains. It pointed out to BJP president JP Nadda and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge that the statements made by their star campaigners often set a narrative that could have damaging effects beyond the election period.

In response to the replies they had submitted to the notices served to them on April 25, the Commission stated that "technical loop holes or extreme interpretations of other political party's utterances" do not absolve the parties and their campaigners from the fundamental responsibility of ensuring their content is corrective to the ongoing discourse "and not further plummeting the quality of campaign discourse".

The Commission reminded both parties of the model code provisions, which prohibit any activity that could exacerbate existing differences or incite hatred or tension between different castes, communities, religious groups, or linguistic groups.