ECI Bars Congress' Surjewala From Election Campaigning For 48 Hours Over Remark Against Hema Malini

BJP had said that Surjewala made ‘vile, sexist’ remark against party MP Hema Malini. (File Images: PTI)

The Election Commission of India “strongly condemned” Congress leader Randeep Surjewala’s objectionable remarks against BJP MP Hema Malini on Tuesday, barring him from doing any kind of election campaigning for 48 hours.

“The Commission, under Article 324 of the Constitution of India and all other powers enabling in this behalf, bars him from holding any public meetings, public processions, public rallies, road shows and interviews, public utterances in media (electronic, print, social media) etc., in connection with ongoing elections for 48 hours from 6 pm on April 16 (Tuesday),” the ECI’s order read.

The poll-governing body had issued a show-cause notice to Surjewala for his alleged undignified remarks against the BJP leader on April 9.

It also sough a response from Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge on the steps taken to ensure strict compliance with its advisories on upholding the honour and dignity of women during public discourse by its leaders.

The Commission had received a complaint from the Bharatiya Janata Party on April 5, alleging that Surjewala made sexist, vulgar and unethical public utterances against the dignity of BJP MP Hema Malini while campaigning in Haryana, in violation of the provisions and Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

Surjewala in his response to the ECI had claimed that “the video cited by the complainant allegedly containing aforesaid utterances was a doctored video.”

The Commission’s order said that after thorough verification of the video and the remarks, it is convinced that Surjewala did make the statement and thus “violated” the provisions of MCC.

BJP’s IT Cell Head Amit Malviya had shared a video of Surjewala’s alleged remark from a campaign rally and said he made a “vile, sexist comment, that is demeaning and derogatory, not just for Hema Malini, who is an accomplished individual, but women in general.”

Haryana Women Commission had also sent notice to Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala over his ‘indecent remarks’ against BJP MP Hema Malini. It had also sent a notice to Congress’ Haryana unit president asking him to take action in this matter and submit a report.