EC bars state BJP chief Satti from campaigning for 48 hrs

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 19

The Election Commission (EC) today reprimanded state BJP president Satpal Singh Satti by imposing a 48-hour campaign bar on him from tomorrow. He has violated the model code of conduct by making derogatory remarks against Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

Exercising its powers under Article 324 of the Constitution of India, the EC has barred Satti (55) from taking part in any kind of election campaign like public meetings, rallies, roadshows, interviews or public utterances for 48 hours, beginning 10 am tomorrow.

The commission took action against Satti for his derogatory and abusive remarks made against Rahul Gandhi at an election rally in Nalagarh, Solan, on April 13.

The Congress had filed a complaint before the EC, seeking action against Satti, who had dismissed the charges in his reply. He became the state president in February 2012 and is known to be firebrand, straightforward and aggressive leader who does not mince words.

After the ban dictate from the EC, Satti did not campaign and virtually remained incommunicado. He is learnt to have got a dressing down from the senior BJP and RSS leadership for courting controversy ever since his utterances went viral on the social media and came in for severe criticism from one and all.

Since then he has confined himself to his home district of Una. Incidentally, Satti was also issued a second notice on April 17 for violating the model code of conduct for using derogatory language against both Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi at an election meeting at Bhanjal in Una on April 14. Today, he filed his reply to the second notice, dismissing the Congress allegations. As such, Satti could face another ban in case the EC finds him guilty of violating the model code of conduct in the second pending complaint.

A video of Satti allegedly using abusive language against Rahul Gandhi at a public meeting in Ramshehar in Nalagarh had gone viral.

On the Congress complaint, the EC had directed Chief Electoral Officer Devesh Kumar to issue a notice to him and also register an FIR against him.

The second notice pertains to alleged derogatory remarks against both Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi at an election meeting at Bhanjal under Ghanari tehsil in Una district on April 14, 2019. He was issued a notice on April 17 and today he filed his reply.

Satti is at the receiving end as trouble is brewing for him for making alleged objectionable remarks against the Radha Soami sect and the Congress yesterday submitted a memorandum to the EC through the CEO, Himachal Pradesh, for taking action against him for hurting the sentiments of the sect.

May face another ban

• Satpal Singh Satti was also issued a second notice on April 17 for using derogatory language against both Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi at an election meeting at Bhanjal in Una on April 14. 
• He filed his reply to the second notice, dismissing the Congress allegations. 
• Satti could face another ban in case the EC finds him guilty of violating the model code of conduct in the second pending complaint.

What Election Commission said

• “The impugned statement made by Satpal Satti is not only indecent, but also derogatory and totally uncalled for," the EC order read.
• The commission strongly condemned the impugned statement while terming his remarks against Rahul Gandhi as indecent and repugnant.