The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a strict warning regarding the statement made by former CM Charanjit Singh Channi about the recent Poonch attack. Congress candidate from Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat, regarding the Army. The Commission has termed Channi's statement as a violation of the election Model Code of Conduct (MCC). Advice has been given not to repeat such mistake again in the future.
A spokesperson of the Chief Electoral Officer of Punjab said that a notice was issued to Channi by the Jalandhar District Electoral Officer/DC to give clarification on the statement. The commission is not satisfied with their reply. This is considered a violation of the MCC considering it contrary to Section 2 of the Model Code of Conduct Manual Contract for General Conduct. He has also been warned not to make such statements again.
Charanjit Channi’s Poonch Attack controversial statement
Channi had given a statement regarding the army in the press conference on May 5. During this, he had called the Poonch attack a stunt by BJP. He said that every time the central government has been doing such drama. These are pre-planned stunts and have been done to make BJP win. It is the job of BJP to kill people and play with their dead bodies. In the terrorist attack on an Army convoy in Poonch, J&K, one Air Force soldier was killed while 5 more were injured.
As soon as this matter came to light, it was shrouded in political controversy. The Commission had given notice in this matter and sought reply which the Commission deemed unsatisfactory. Channi later said that he was proud of the country's soldiers but targeted the Center over the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, saying that the government could not find out who carried out the attack.