Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Punish those who violate Model Code of Conduct' that was published in Newsband

Punish those who violate Model Code of Conduct

Personal attacks and unsubstantiated allegations have always been part of the election campaign in India. But 2014 has already witnessed a new low in the political discourse. Threatening, delivering hate speeches, passing tasteless and abusive remarks and violating the model code are become common affair.

The code is very clear on what is acceptable and what is not during the campaign period. It specifies that “criticism of other political parties, when made, shall be confined to their policies and programme, past record and work.” Parties and candidates are expected to refrain from criticism of “all aspects of private life, not connected with the public activities of the leaders or workers of other parties.” The model code has effectively curtailed the misuse of official machinery during the campaign period. But yet the code is violated by many.  

These politicians violate the code just to grab attention. They should be made to avoid lies and abuse in the campaign and instead lay the ground for a reasoned and informed debate during electioneering. They should be asked to raise the level of debate above personal attacks and pettiness. Such tasteless rants do not serve India’s democracy at all.

More often than not non-parliamentary words are used to attack political opponents. Election Commission must insist and follow a method of fine for those who default. Not only that, even after the election period, the Government - both the Center and the State - must devise workable ways to rigidly follow an Act to be passed in Parliament and Rajya Sabha with the approval of President of India that quoting of religion, caste or creed while referring to the acts of individual or groups of people is contrary to Rules of the country.

The Commission is duty-bound to ensure free and fair election and as such there are no rules for controlling the media in order to check the political conspiracy of dividing voters on the basis of caste, creed or religion.

Election is a very serious process but these days it's turning out to be a funny process. Parties come up with a basket of dream called "Manifestos". The dream is like a kiss, which after election turns out to be a slap. Unless the EC is made powerful enough to nab such people and treat the offence as a criminal offence and put them behind bars for at least 6 months and make them ineligible of contesting any election for the next 5 years such tasteless rants will never stop. These are told more to please the crowd and such things should be dealt mercilessly to bring some decency in the political scenario.

If the election code has a provision to disallow such members from contesting and if it takes the judicial sanction, may be such acts will come to an end. Unfortunately, some of them get elected, to successfully resume their hate speeches in the Parliament, thereby making the entire country shameful.

The Indian politics is now at a very low ebb due to the petty mindedness of the politicians. Though there is everything in statute to book cases against people involved in making hate speeches, malicious campaigning etc., it has practically no impact as neither EC nor Courts are imposing severe punishment on offenders resulting in deterioration of politics beyond tolerance.