In response to a complaint lodged by the DMK, the Election Commission has directed the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer to take “appropriate action” against Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje for her remarks linking people from Tamil Nadu to the Bengaluru Rameshwaram cafe blast case. This action marks the first instance since the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections.
The Election Commission forwarded a copy of the complaint filed by DMK organization secretary R.S. Bharathi and instructed the Chief Electoral Officer to ensure immediate action in accordance with the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). A compliance report has been requested within 48 hours.
Karandlaje, a Minister of State, sparked controversy when she alleged on Tuesday that individuals from Tamil Nadu were involved in the recent Bengaluru cafe blast. The DMK complaint argues that her statement violates MCC provisions and aims to incite enmity between communities.
In response to the EC’s directives, Karandlaje issued an apology, stating that her remarks were not intended to offend and were solely directed towards those linked to the Rameshwaram Cafe blast.
In addition to the action against Karandlaje, the Election Commission has addressed the persistence of unauthorized political advertisements despite previous instructions. The EC has written to relevant authorities, demanding the immediate removal of such advertisements and submission of compliance reports by Thursday, 5 pm.
The Election Commission emphasized the need for swift action, citing complaints regarding the continued display of unauthorized political advertisements across the country. It directed all state and union territory governments to ensure full compliance with the removal of unauthorized political advertisements from public spaces.
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