MCC violations by PM Modi, Shah: SC seeks EC response

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Tuesday sought the response of the Election Commission on a plea by a Congress MP alleging Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violations by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah on their alleged hate speeches and using armed forces for "political propaganda".

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said the poll panel was free to pass orders on the complaint of Sushmita Dev, Congress Lok Sabha MP from Silchar in Assam and President of 'All India Mahila Congress'.

The bench, also comprising Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph, fixed Dev's plea for hearing on Thursday.

Dev has alleged that "inaction" by EC on complaints against top BJP leaders was "a sign of invidious discrimination" as also "arbitrary, capricious and impermissible" as it was destructive of the integrity of the electoral process.

In a related development, the Election Commission Tuesday gave a clean chit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his April 1st speech in Wardha. While referring to Congress president Rahul Gandhi's decision to also contest from Kerala's Wayanad constituency, PM Modi had said the party was taking "refuge in areas where the majority is in minority". See inside