Mission Shakti: EC seeks active transcript of Narendra Modi's speech, will analyse urgency of PM's address

After holding an ‘internal consultation’, the Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday sought an active transcript from the government of the speech delivered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing India’s entry in the league of countries that have sent anti-satellite missile to space, sources in the poll body told CNN-News18. [caption id=“attachment_6337061” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India conducted A-SAT test and shot down low Earth orbit satellite.[/caption] The EC will analyse the urgency of Modi’s address , the timing of which was questioned by Opposition leaders. News18 further reported that Deputy Election Commissioner Dr Sandeep Saxena will examine the prime minister’s speech. “There is no great urgency in conducting and announcing the mission now by a government past its expiry date. It seems a desperate oxygen to save the imminent sinking of the BJP boat. We are lodging a complaint with the Election Commission,” West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Twitter. Modi’s announcement about Mission Shakti invited widespread praise from leaders of the BJP and Opposition, but also invited allegations of violation of the Model Code of Conduct, which has been in effect since 10 March when the dates of Lok Sabha polls were announced.

Today’s announcement is yet another limitless drama and publicity mongering by Modi desperately trying to reap political benefits at the time of election. This is a gross violation of Model Code of Conduct. 3/4

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) March 27, 2019

Today @narendramodi got himself an hour of free TV & divert nation's attention away from issues on ground — #Unemployment #RuralCrisis & #WomensSecurity — by pointing at the sky.

Congratulations @drdo_india & @isro — this success belongs to you. Thank you for making India safer.

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) March 27, 2019

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Well done DRDO, extremely proud of your work.

I would also like to wish the PM a very happy World Theatre Day.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 27, 2019

EC sources told PTI that issues related to national security and disaster management do not fall under the ambit of the Model Code of Conduct. Modi announced on Wednesday morning that India shot down a live satellite on a low earth orbit, demonstrating anti-missile capabilities in space, a feat achieved only by the United States, Russia and China in the past. “For every Indian, this is a matter of pride,” he added. “The satellite had a pre-determined destination. This operation was completed in three minutes. Mission Shakti was a difficult operation,” the Prime Minister announced. Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Modi is all set to address a rally in western Uttar Pradesh on 28 March and two rallies in West Bengal on 3 April. With inputs from PTI