New Delhi:
The Election Commission has directed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to change its campaign song following complaints that it had violated advertising rules and poll body guidelines during the election season.
The BJP had complained to the Election Commission (EC) that the AAP's campaign song took a swipe at central investigating agencies and the party.
The AAP is at war with the Enforcement Directorate over the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other leaders in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case, which the AAP claims is a fabricated case.
“It is probably the first time that the EC has imposed a ban on a party's campaign song,” AAP leader Atishi told reporters today. The change in content means that the song cannot be used in its current form.
“The song does not mention the BJP and does not violate the model code of conduct. It contains factual videos and incidents,” she added.
She alleged that the EC has failed to act on violations of the poll code by the BJP.
“If the BJP is doing dictatorship, that is good. But if anyone talks about it, it's wrong. This shows that democracy is in danger. I would like to urge the EC to take action against the (poll code) violations committed by the BJP and not hold back campaigns by opposition parties,” Atishi said.
The EC in its order to the AAP said the content of the campaign song was in violation of the advertising codes mentioned in the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994 and the guidelines and norms of ECI.
“Therefore, the said advertisement is hereby returned with a request to amend the content…,” the EC said.
The AAP's over two-minute campaign song was written and sung by party MLA Dilip Pandey. The song was released at the party headquarters on Thursday.
The AAP has been campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections without Mr Kejriwal or his former deputy Manish Sisodia, who is also in jail in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case.
The Supreme Court will hear a plea by Mr Kejriwal challenging his arrest on Monday. Mr Kejriwal had earlier told the Supreme Court that his “illegal arrest” in the case was an unprecedented attack on the principles of democracy based on “free and fair elections” and “federalism”.
In a rejoinder to the ED's reply to his petition challenging his arrest, Mr Kejriwal said that the manner, manner and timing of his arrest was just before the Lok Sabha elections, when the Model Code came into play, spoke volumes about the 'arbitrariness' of the elections. desk.