EC extends time for Jaiswal to file reply

New Delhi: The Election Commission has granted two more days to Union minister Sriprakash Jaiswal to reply to its notice on his comments on imposition of President’s Rule in Uttar Pradesh, which it held prima facie a violation of the Model Code of Conduct. The Commission had on 24 February slapped a show cause notice on Jaiswal, Coal Minister, asking why action should not be initiated against him for his President’s Rule remarks made during campaigning in Uttar Pradesh.[caption id=“attachment_228564” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Election Commission. PTI”] [/caption] Jaiswal was to reply to the EC notice by 27 February but has been allowed to file his reply by 29 February after he sought two more days time to enable him to explain his stand on the matter in detail. “I have received the Election Commission notice. I am a law-abiding citizen of a law-abiding party. The Election Commission will be sent a reply within time and I hope it (takes note) that I had not given any wrong statement… because the question has not been shown and only my reply has been. Thus, an illusion has been created. Tomorrow is the last date for replying (to EC notice) and I will reply by tomorrow,” Jaswal told reporters in New Delhi today. The EC action came in the wake of complaints received by it from BJP and Samajwadi Party, charging Jaiswal with violating the Model Code and for allegedly threatening the voters of Uttar Pradesh. Jaiswal had, after casting his vote in Kanpur in the 5th phase of polling yesterday, said, “If Congress gets majority, then it will form the government… In case we don’t get clear majority, we sit in the opposition and I see no alternative but Governor’s rule.” Jaiswal has pleaded not guilty to any poll code violation and retracted from his statement made in Kanpur, within hours of his coming back to Delhi and claimed that the media had “twisted” his statement. The EC notice served on Jaiswal said, “The Commission is, prima facie satisfied that Shri Sri Prakash Jaiswal, by making the aforesaid uncalled for statement has attempted to threaten the voters of districts going for poll in 6th and 7th phases either to vote for his party i.e. INC, or face imposition of President Rule in Uttar Pradesh and has thus violated the aforesaid provisions of the Model Code of Conduct.” The Commission had earlier sought the video of Jaiswal’s speech besides as also a report on the matter from the district magistrate of Kanpur, which has since been given. PTI