PM Narendra Modi gets a clean chit from EC for Wardha rally, says 'no code violations had occurred'

In a relief to PM Narendra Modi, the Election Commission, on Tuesday has declared that there were no Model Code of conduct violations in his Wardha rally speech on April 1.

The order stated:

In a matter related to a complaint concerning an alleged violation of Model Code of Conduct in a speech delivered by Shri Narendra Modi at Wardha, Maharashtra on 01.04.2019, a detailed report of the Chief Electoral Officer, Maharashtra was obtained. The matter has been examined in detail in accordance with the extant guidelines/provisions of the Model Code of Conduct, the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and the report of the Chief Electoral Officer, Maharashtra. Accordingly, the Commission is of the considered view that in this matter no such violation has been noticed. 

WATCH: PM Modi Attacks Congress Over 'Hindu Terror' Bogey, Alludes To Rahul Gandhi Running Away To Wayanad Where 'majority Is In Minority'

In the April 1 rally, PM Modi had slammed Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi's decision to contest from the Wayanad constituency in Kerala apart from his bastion Amethi in the Lok Sabha polls, saying Gandhi ran away to a place where the minority is in majority.

''People who were called terrorist by the Congress and its president have now risen. Congress pre-fixed the term ‘terrorist’ with the peace-loving Hindu society. The Hindu society that believes the world to be its family was said to be involved in terror activities. They joined 'terrorism' with Hindu. That is why now he is not daring to fight the election from a place where the majority lives. He is paying a  price of calling Hindus terrorists. Therefore, he ran away and is fighting the election from a place where the majority is in minority, he is forced to take shelter in such a place.'' 

In the same speech, the Prime Minister also accused the NCP-Congress alliance of 'sleeping' and doing nothing while in power:

"NCP-Congress, when together in power, sleep for six months each. One wakes up, loots people's money, and goes back to sleep......" he said before adding, "When farmers went to Ajit Pawar asking about water, what answers did they get? When farmers of Mawal were fighting for their rights, the Pawar family ordered firing at them."

Polling for all parliamentary constituencies in Maharashtra was held in the first four phases of the Lok Sabha elections till April 29. The results will be declared on May 23.