CPI(M) accuses PM Modi of violating Model Code of Conduct, writes a letter to EC

The CPI(M) wrote to the Election Commission, asking it why Prime Minister Narendra Modi was allowed to "politically colour" the achievements of Indian scientists in midst of the national polls.

New Delhi:The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Wednesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of violating the Model Code of Conduct by announcing an Indian scientific achievement in space amid an election campaign in which he himself is a candidate.

"Such a mission should normally be announced to the nation and to the world by the relevant scientific authorities like the DRDO," CPI-M said in a letter to the Election Commission.

"Instead, the Indian Prime Minister has taken the route of an address to the nation in making this announcement," the letter added.

"I would like to know that if the Election Commission was informed of such an address to the nation by the Prime Minister and did the Election Commission consider and permit such an address to the nation by the Prime Minister?" said CPI(M) politburo member Nilotpal Basu

"I am sure that the entire country would like to know the special reasons why the Election Commission permitted the achievements of Indian scientists to be politically coloured during the course of the general elections," he added.

In any case, the CPI-M leader pointed out that India had developed this capability was announced by the then chief of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in 2012.

Referring to the Pulwama and subsequent Balakot incident, Basu said that the Government also politicised the previous two incidents.