SHILLONG: The Election Commission of India has censured Congress candidate for Tura by-poll Dikkanchi D Shira for her speech with a communal tone during the campaign.
It was after the Election Commission was not satisfied with the reply of the candidate and her election agent that the Election Commission censured and cautioned Dikkanchi.
The Election Commission had gone through the translated version of statements made by Dikkanchi during the public meeting at Dadenggre in West Garo Hills district on May 2 which read as “Today He fought for the Christians, He shielded the Christians, but now his son has joined hands with those who are persecuting Christians. Will he be able to shield the Christians in the Parliament?”
The Chief Electoral Officer Frederick Kharkongor said on Monday that after the complaints came to the fore, the Returning Officer had also lodged an FIR with the police for further probe into the matter.
BJP had also petitioned the Returning Officer to take action against the Congress candidate.
However, the order of SB Joshi, Secretary to the Election Commission issued on May 12 said that the reply of the election agent of Dikkanchi G. Arengh on May 7 was not satisfactory regarding the public speech delivered by her at Dadenggre.
Later, a reply addressed to the Returning Officer by Dikkanchi on May 10 was also not found satisfactory to the Election Commission.
“Whereas, the Commission is also of the considered opinion that you have violated the above provisions of the Model Code of Conduct; now, therefore, the Commission hereby censures you for the violation of the Model Code of Conduct and cautions you to be more careful while making public speeches during election campaigns in future”, the Election Commission said.
