'Pakistan' remark: Non-bailable warrant against Giriraj

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday banned Singh from campaigning in Bihar and Jharkhand after the BJP candidate triggered a controversy by saying that all opponents of the party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi will be sent to Pakistan.

The commission has asked authorities in both the states not to allow his 'public meetings, public processions,  public rallies, road shows, etc., by the district administration authorities  of Bihar and Jharkhand.'

The Commission in its order said: "I am directed to state that the Commission has observed  with serious concerns that Shri Giriraj Singh, a leader of BJP, has made highly  inflammatory  speeches  and statements before the Media on 18th April, 2014 at Bokaro  and Deoghar in Jharkhand  during the course of the current  election  campaign for General Election to the House of the  People from the State of  Jharkhand.  These statements promote  feelings of enmity, hatred and ill-will and create disharmony between different communities. 

"Fufther, the said statements made by him are highly prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony  between different religious communities  and are also likely to disturb peace and public tranquillity and such public utterances by him have the malicious effect of outraging the religious  feelings and religious beliefs of different classes  of citizens of India and threatening some section of the voters."

It said: " The Commission has particularly noted that part of his public utterance  that voters  who do not vote for Modi shall have to find their place in Pakistan,  which is totally violative of the principles of the Indian Constitution which guarantees  equality before law and equal oppoftunity, irrespective of caste, creed or religion, and the scared right of free exerctse of franchise by the  electors as per his her  free will and choice."

The ECI said: "I am further to state that Shri Giriraj Singh's  statements are not only violative of the provisions  of Model Code of Conduct, but also constitute  serious offences under variousprovisions  of law, like, Section 125 [and also Sections  123(3) and 123(3A)]  of the Representatlon of the People  Act, 1951, Sections 153A, 1538,  171C, 295A  and 505(2)  of the Indian Penal Code, apart from the relevant provistons  of the State laws. The Commission  is separatefy issuing him a show cause notice for violation  of MCC."

In a notice, the ECI asked the leader 'to explain  your stand in making the above  said statement before  5 pm of 24th April, 2014, failing which the ECI shall take a decision without  further reference to you.'

Meanwhile, Modi has said he does not support Singh's recent remarks that all opponents of the Gujarat CM will be sent to Pakistan.

"Nobody can support Giriraj Singh's remarks, " Modi said in an interview to ABP News.