Bharatiya Janata Party’s Uttar Pradesh unit president Mahendra Nath Pandey has appealed to the Election Commission to review its decision to censor Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and bar him from campaigning for 72 hours starting from Tuesday morning.
“The BJP is a disciplined party and has high respect for the Election Commission. But Yogi Adityanath has not incited communal hatred or given any communal statement in his speech. We appeal to the Election Commission to review its decision to temporary ban Yogi from electioneering for 72 hours,” Pandey said in a statement here on Monday.
The Election Commission has barred Yogi Adityanath and Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati from campaigning for 72 and 48 hours respectively for their communal remarks.
While Yogi Adityanath has been barred from campaigning in the form of public meetings, roadshows or media interviews for the next three days from April 16 (6 am), Mayawati has been barred for 48 hours.
Yogi has been penalised for his ‘Ali’ and ‘Bajrang Bali:’ remark in Meerut.
Pandey said that BSP supremo Mayawati and Samajwadi Party leader Mohammad Azam Khan had asked for votes on religious lines and had tried to incite communal hatred through their vitriolic speeches.
He said Azam Khan had also used derogatory words against BJP candidate Jaya Prada and strict action should be taken against him.
