EC warns Union min guilty of violating model code

New Delhi: Holding Union Minister Porika Balram Naik guilty of violating the Model Code of Conduct, the Election Commission today expressed its displeasure and cautioned him to be careful in future. The Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment was issued a notice on October 25 for announcing a Rs 20 crore grant for construction of hostels for OBC students in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh at a political gathering in Bhopal on October 16, in violation of the Model Code. “The Commission is satisfied that Porika Balram Naik has, in his said speech made the aforesaid promise and thereby violated the provisions of sub-paras (vi) (a) and (c) of Para Vll of the Model Code of Conduct. [caption id=“attachment_1228445” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  The Election Commission expressed its displeasure and cautioned Union Minister Porika Balram Naik for violating the election code of conduct. Seen here is Election Commissioner VS Sampath. PIB[/caption] “Now, therefore, the Commission hereby conveys its displeasure to Porika Balram Naik … and cautions him to be careful in future,” the EC order said. As per the Model Code of Conduct, Ministers shall not announce any financial grants in any form or promises thereof or make any promise of construction of roads or provision of drinking water facilities. In his reply to the notice, Naik had denied the charges mentioned in it, but the Commission went through the transcript of his speech and found him guilty of violating the Model Code. Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh are slated for November 25 and the Model Code came into effect on October 4. PTI