EC show causes John Leslee for hate speech

TURA: The Election Commission has issued a showcause notice to Independent candidate John Leslee K Sangma for allegedly indulging in hate speech against the National People’s Party founder PA Sangma and his daughter Agatha Sangma during his by-poll campaign in South Tura.
The showcause notice came on Saturday after NPP’s general secretary Mathias N Marak lodged an official complaint with the commission.
The commission gave John till Monday noon to respond to the charges.
John 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 EC.
The meeting was alleged to have been held between 8pm and 10 pm.
The former legislator, who was defeated in the last election and relegated to fourth position, has reportedly given his reply to the notice.
The complaint against John is on a speech he gave at an election meeting at Nikrang A’ding locality of South Tura on August 7 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 religious sentiments of 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 showcause.
NPP had also claimed that John tried to malign the reputation of Agatha by questioning her decision to invite non-Catholics to her residence for prayer when she is a Catholic.
The commission’s notice pointed to a Supreme Court ruling that said 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.
Bernard targets John
Former ANVC-B chairman Bernard Marak has said the former MLA has betrayed people on the issue of the September 30 police firing in Tura and Williamnagar in which nine persons were killed.
“The people of Tura voted for him so that he could bring justice to the victims of the firing. When we elected him five years ago he was a leader not a politician but now he has changed so much… now he praises Mukul Sangma whom he had blamed for the killing of nine innocent persons,” said Marak in a statement issued on Sunday.
“The video being circulated on social media is evidence of John now working with Mukul Sangma,” he added.