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Mayawati questions EC on banning her for 48 hrs

Mayawati questions EC on banning her for 48 hrs

Lucknow, Apr 15 (UNI) Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Monday questioned the order of the Election Commission to ban her from campaigning for 48 hours, for violating the Election Model Code of Conduct.
"India is a democratic country. Therefore, such sudden orders are clearly a murder of democracy," she commented and alleged that the EC has closed its eye and ears.
"This gag order was without any substantial reason. This order has been registered as Black order in the history of the Election Commission. Besides, the poor and deprived of India will never forgive this order," Ms Mayawati added.
Addressing a press conference here, the BSP chief alleged that the only design behind this order is to 'stop me from making an appeal against BJP'.
"EC order against Yogi Adityanath is not of much impact on BJP because he is not a party president. EC has given full freedom to Modi and Shah to indulge in all sort of communal and divisive campaign," she alleged.
Clarifying her stand in the statement, which led to the action, the BSP chief said, "I had only appealed to the Muslims that they should not divide their vote on communal lines and vote to defeat BJP.
"I had also said in my reply that I have been provided no video recording of my speech. I had also requested the EC to listen to the entire speech. But, all these demands were totally ignored, "she alleged.
'EC action against me is gross violation of my fundamental right, given by the Constitution. Why the EC notice did not accuse me of making a provocative speech? Besides, in response to the showcause notice, I had clarified that I had not sought vote on caste or religious lines, which they had accepted,' she added.

The EC ordered 48-hour electioneering ban on Ms Mayawati and 72-hour ban on UP CM Yogi Adityanath, both starting from 0600 hrs on Tuesday.
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