New Delhi: The Election Commission on Tuesday reprimanded Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister KS Eshwarappa for violating the Model Code of Conduct in connection with his alleged hate speech and asked him to be cautious in future. The BJP leader who is also the candidate from Shimoga assembly constituency in Karnataka has been booked for allegedly inciting communal feelings and promoting hatred and ill-will between different classes in society in a speech on April 9 while campaigning in Shimoga for the Karnataka Assembly elections.
Karnataka goes to polls on May 5 and counting will take place on May 8. The poll body issued an order on Tuesday after taking into account Eshwarappa's initial reply to its notice issued to him on April 12 and twice extending the time for his final reply till April 22 on his request.
The order was passed after the full Commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath and Election Commissioners HS Brahma and Nasim Zaidi discussed the issue. "The perusal of your impugned statement leaves no one in doubt that the same has the effect of inciting communal feelings and promoting hatred and ill-will between different classes of citizens of India, in a surcharged election atmosphere, which is prohibited under the Model Code of Conduct.
"Now, therefore, the Commission has decided to reprimand you for having made the above provocative statement in violation of the Model Code of Conduct and has cautioned you to be careful in future," the EC order to Eshwarappa said.
The EC had obtained the CD of the hate speech and reviewed its contents where Eshwarappa had made certain controversial remarks.
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