The Election Commission on Tuesday barred Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala from campaigning for 48 hours over his alleged derogatory remarks against BJP MP Hema Malini. This is the first time the poll body has imposed such a ban on a political leader in this Lok Sabha election cycle.
The BJP had moved the EC against Surjewala for his “vulgar, sexist and disparaging public utterances” against Hema Malini and the poll panel issued a show-cause notice to the Congress leader last Tuesday.
In its notice, the EC had said that on careful examination, the comments made by Surjewala were found to be “highly undignified, vulgar and uncivilised” and to be prima facie violative of the provisions of the model code of conduct.
In his reply, the Congress leader, however, claimed that the video of his speech cited by the BJP was “doctored”. The poll panel, however, rejected his claims and noted that he had violated the model code of conduct.
“The commission without prejudice to any order/notice issued or to be issued subsequently to him in the matter relating to MCC violations, hereby, strongly condemns the impugned statement made by him during the election campaign held in Haryana and reprimands Randeep Surjewala for the misconduct,” the order said.
Surjewala cannot hold any public meetings, public processions, public rallies, road shows and interviews, public utterances in media (electronic, print, social media) in connection with ongoing elections for 48 hours from 6 pm on April 16. Hema Malini, the sitting MP from Mathura, is contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from the seat.
Surjewala was heard saying in the purported video, “Here is no Hema Malini who can make people licking…no film star. We also respect Hema Malini because she is married to Dharmendra and is our daughter-in-law. These people can be film stars. But, we are not like them. You make me or Gupta ji an MP-MLA so that we can serve you.”
