Delhi BJP MLA, civic officials get EC notice for code violation

New Delhi, Nov 18 (IANS) The Election Commission of India Tuesday asked Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Ramesh Bidhuri and some Delhi couuncillors and civic officials why action should not be taken against them for violating the model code of conduct.

The action against Bidhuri and others came after the EC took note of a news in the local Hindi daily 'Vijay News' that Bidhuri had Oct 15 laid the foundation stone for the construction of an outfall drain at Blocks F & G in Pul Prehladpur.

When contacted, Bidhuri told IANS that he did not inaugurate the project, nor did he lay any foundation stone for it on Oct 15.

The EC had asked for a detailed report from Delhi's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), who in turn asked the district administration to probe.

The district administration report Oct 30 confirmed that 'the foundation stone had been set up at the place and had names of all the eight persons.'

Following this, the EC issued a notice to the eight whose names appeared on the foundation stone.

The notice was issued to BJP legislator from Tughlaqabad Ramesh Bidhuri, Leader of MCD house Subhash Arya, municipal councillors Sarita Choudhury and Raj Pal Poswal, chairman of Central Zone Ward Samiti Chaudhary Braham Prakash, BJP's Mehrauli district chief Azad Singh, chief engineer (civil) Ravidas and additional commissioner engineering Naresh Kumar.

'From the time elections are announced by the commission, ministers and other authorities (except civil servants) shall not lay foundation stones etc. of projects or schemes of any kind,' an EC statement said.

In view of the violation of the model code of consuct, the EC statement said it decided to issue notices to the eight, demanding why action should not be taken against them. The notice is returnable 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Asked about the notice, Bidhuri told IANS: 'I have not received any notice till now. I did not inaugurate the project in question, even though I was scheduled to.'

'The project was scheduled for Oct 15 but after elections were announced and the model code of conduct came into force Oct 14, the programme was cancelled. The media report is baseless and it is a conspiracy by my rivals,' Bidhuri added.

He also claimed that the foundation stones for such programmes are in place a day before the function, so that the leaders just come and unveil them.

Elections to the Delhi assembly are scheduled Nov 29.