Gujarat EC To File FIR Against TV Channels For Telecasting Rahul Gandhi’s Interview A Day Before Polling

The Election Commission on Wednesday directed the chief electoral officer of Gujarat to file an FIR against channels in Gujarat that telecast Congress president-elect Rahul Gandhi’s interview, a day before the second and  the final phase of polling in the state.

“We have got a complaint regarding telecast of an interview. We have collected the DVDs. We will be doing a due examination and look into whether it has violated Rules 126 Representation of the People Act or not,” Gujarat chief electoral officer BB Swain said earlier on Wednesday.

The BJP and the Congress were locked in a war of words over Gandhi's interviews aired by Gujarati TV channels which also led the former to lodge a complaint with the Election Commission.

As a controversy erupted after several Gujarati news channels started airing the interviews, the BJP alleged he has turned so "desperate" fearing defeat in the Gujarat polls that he "violated" the Model Code of Conduct to giving the media interviews a day before the second and final phase of the elections tomorrow.

The Congress on its part accused chief minister Vijay Ruapani and others of threatening journalists for airing Gandhi's interview and urged the Election Commission for action against them including registration of cases.

While the BJP claimed that airing of interviews was a "clear violation" of the poll code, Swain said the rules and guidelines which prohibit campaigning in the 48-hour period before the end of polling do not amount to a "gag order".

"There are rules and guidelines which ban broadcasting of certain election-related content on TV during 48 hours... But we can not call it a gag order.

Section 126 relates to prohibition of public meetings during period of 48 hours prior to the end of polling.

When asked if a restraining order has been issued to news channels to stop the broadcast, Swain had earlier said he would first examine the evidence.

As per the EC guideline for the media, electronic media, including TV channels, can't broadcast anything related to the elections after 5.00 pm of December 12.

"We filed three complaints, through e-mail, with the EC as well as the Gujarat Chief Electoral Officer, yesterday and today, as we came to know yesterday itself that such interviews will be aired today. Though we sought immediate action, the interviews went on air," said a state BJP leader who did not want be identified.

As Gandhi spoke about Gujarat in these interviews, it was a clear violation of section 126, he alleged.

"We even asked officials yesterday to take suo motu (on their own) action and stop channels from airing the interviews today. However, they were aired. It does not make any difference if the interview is conducted in Delhi. As Rahul spoke about Gujarat and it was aired in Gujarat, it violates the code," said the leader.

Union minister Piyush Goyal said the Election Commission should act following these interviews and claimed that the undercurrent which Gandhi said was present in Gujarat, will work against the Congress and the BJP will win over 150 seats in the 182-seat assembly.

"Congress is so scared and Rahul Gandhi is desperate to save his face. That is why he violated the Model Code of Conduct and gave interviews. We don't think such interviews are allowed in the 48 hours prior to polls. We have never given such interviews," Goyal told a press conference in Delhi.

Congress incharge of communications department Randeep Surjewala alleged that some state BJP leaders were threatening TV channels with cases in the name of Election Commission for violation of model code of conduct.

"We strongly condemn the BJP and its leaders for their arrogant behaviour. We warn the BJP that they cannot impose such restrictions on the media as there is still rule of democracy in the country.

"We urge the Election Commission to take note of this and demand registration of cases against those threatening journalists," Surjewala told reporters in Delhi.

Asked who were issuing such threats to journalists, he said, "We are on record to say that Gujarat chief minister and Gujarat BJP chief are calling up TV channels and have threatened them. Union minister Piyush Goyal has also said that cases will be registered against those airing Gandhi's interview."

(With PTI inputs)