Lalu served another notice

The Election Commission has served another notice to RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav Tuesday for violating Model Code of Conduct in connection with the landing of his chopper at the venue of his election meeting instead of a helipad in Garwah in Jharkhand last week. The EC has asked the Union Railway Minister to reply by 4 pm Wednesday.

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The incident occurred on April 7 when the pilot escorting RJD supreme landed his chopper at school compound, a venue very near to the election rally, instead of the nearest helipad. This had allegedly caused stampede among public.

On the same day, the Garwah district administration had registered an FIR against the RJD chief as the action was violation of the Model Code.

The notice came just a day after the Election Commission exonerated Lalu Yadav after expressing strong displeasure over his derogatory “roller remarks” against BJP candidate from Pilibhit Varun Gandhi.

EC had also found accused former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi, BJP stalwart Jaswant Singh and Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray of violating Model Code of Conduct (MCC), but let off all of them after pulling up.

While Lalu had been found guilty of violating MCC for his disparaging remarks made in Muslims dominated Kishanganj in Bihar that “had he been the home minister of the country he would have crushed Varun Gandhi under a roller for his anti-Muslim speech”, his wife and former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi was found guilty of making derogatory personal remarks against JDU chief and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Prasad had, however, claimed that his “roller remarks” meant was bulldozing Varun Gandhi under the roller of law, politically and legally; but his contention was rejected by the EC.

Likewise, Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray was found guilty for making offensive remarks against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He was also let off but with stringent warning that his campaign would now be closely monitored.

BJP leader Jaswant Singh was also rapped by EC for distributing money at an election rally and defending the move, which EC dubbed as amounting to corruption, by saying it was a local custom.

Before letting them off, the EC noted that the MCC was not legislation but a unique procedure to supervise the elections. The candidates are morally and ethically bound to respect the code which was devised after an extensive discussion within the political establishments.