TURA: The Election Commission has issued a show cause notice to Independent candidate John Leslee K Sangma for allegedly indulging in a hate speech against the National People’s Party founder Late P A Sangma and his daughter Agatha Sangma during campaigning for the South Tura by-election.
The commission slapped the show cause notice following an official complaint lodged with it by the NPP’s general secretary Mathias N Marak.
The commission, which issued the show cause on Saturday, gave John leslee Sangma till Monday noon to respond to the charges. He has also been pulled up for an additional violation of the model code of conduct for holding an election meeting at night without seeking permission from the Election commission.
The former legislator, who was defeated in the last elections and relegated to fourth position has reportedly given his reply to the notice.
The complaint against John Leslee is on a speech he gave at an election meeting in Nikrang A’ding locality of South Tura on August 7th in which he allegedly made derogatory remarks against former South Tura legislator Agatha K Sangma and her late father, that was considered inflammatory with an intention to hurt the religious sentiments of the people.
“Whereas it has been alleged by the complainant that you have interpreted in your speech that ‘Late P A Sangma has converted to Hinduism’ while also screening a video which showed the visit of Late P A Sangma visiting a mandir and accepting ‘tika’ which is objectionable and inflammatory, inciting communal feelings,” pointed out Returning Officer S B Marak in her show cause to John Leslee.
The Commission’s show cause notice pointed to a Supreme Court ruling which has stated that religion and caste cannot be used by anyone while making any statement during electioneering or otherwise.
“Your intention to hold meeting/campaign by you during such critical time period of election without seeking permission from the undersigned on this date and time when the model code of conduct is in force hereby is construed to be a deliberate attempt on your part to willfully violate Model Code of Conduct and rules as laid down by the Election commission of India,” added the Returning Officer in her show cause to the Independent candidate for holding an election meet without permission from the Election commission.
The meeting by the Independent candidate was alleged to have been held between 8pm and 10 pm without permission from the Returning Officer.
Ever since Agatha resigned from the assembly to pave way for her brother and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to contest her seat and enter the state assembly, former legislator John Leslee Sangma has lashed out against the brother-sister duo and has himself jumped into the poll fray.