TheElection Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday banned BJP leader Sayantan Basuand Trinamool Congress leader Sujata Mondal from campaigning for 24 hours fortheir recent comments. Theban is effective from 7 p.m. on Sunday to 7 p.m. on Monday.
Basuwas banned from campaigning for his remark over Sitalkuchi violence in whichfive people lost their lives, while Sujata Mondal for her remarks againstSchedule Caste (SC) community.
TheEC found that Basu has violated 'General Conduct of Model Code of Conduct forthe Guidance of Political Parties and Candidates' and made highly provocativeremarks which could have a very serious consequence on the general maintenanceof law and order thereby adversely affecting the election process.
"Therefore,the Commission hereby sternly warns and condemns Sayantan Basu and stronglyadvises him to desist from using such statement while making public utterancesduring the period when Model Code of Conduct is in force and imposes a ban of24 hours from 7 p.m. on April 18 to 7 p.m. on April 19 during which he shallnot be allowed to campaign," the EC said.
Whilebanning Mondal from campaigning, the EC found that her comment denigrating theScheduled Caste (SC) community in West Bengal and is of considered view thatshe has violated Model Code of Conduct and through her remarks which couldcause tension between different castes thereby adversely affecting the electionprocess.
"TheCommission hereby sternly warns Sujata Mondal and advises her to desist fromusing such statement while making public utterances during the period whenModel Code of Conduct is in force and imposes a ban of 24 hours from 7 p.m. onApril 18 to 7 p.m. April 19 during which she shall not be allowed tocampaign," the poll body said.
"Asthere is a saying, some are actually beggars and others are beggars by nature.The schedule castes here are beggars by nature, and in spite of MamataBandyopadhyay (CM Mamata Banerjee) helping them so much, still they have beensold to BJP at a petty amount and are now torturing us," Sujata MondalKhan had said.