You have finally woken up to powers: Supreme Court on EC's banning of political leaders' campaign
New Delhi, Apr 16 (IBNS): Reacting to the poll body's decision to bar prominent politicians from campaigning for giving hate speeches, the Supreme Court on Tuesday said it seems the Election Commission (EC) has finally woken up to powers, media reports said.
"It seems you have finally woken up to your powers. You have got your powers back. You don't look powerless anymore," the observation of the Chief Justice of India has been quoted by News 18.
This comes a day after the EC barred Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati from campaigning for 72 and 48 hours respectively for giving hate speeches.
The poll body also banned Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan from campaigning for 72 hours after he had triggered a row by commenting on actress-turned politician Jaya Prada.
“I had brought her (Jaya Prada) to Rampur. You are witness that I did not allow anyone to touch her body. It took you 17 years to identify her real face but I got to know in 17 days that she wears khaki underwear,” Khan had said at a rally in Rampur referring to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Prada.
BJP's Maneka Gandhi has also been barred from campaigning for 48 hours for her controversial remarks.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has rejected to hear Mayawati's plea against the EC's ban and the BSP chief has been asked to file a separate petition.
The top court pulled up the EC on Monday for not taking actions to curb hate speeches.
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