FIR registered for MCC violation over Congress complaint against 'misleading videos' by 'BJP4Jharkhand'
Ranchi: An FIR has been registered at the cybercrime police station in Ranchi for violation of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) guidelines over a video posted on a social media handle of the BJP's Jharkhand wing.
The Election Commission had on Sunday received a complaint from Congress leader Jairam Ramesh regarding "false and misleading videos" posted by 'BJP 4 Jharkhand' on its official social media handle.
The Congress leader had said that a complaint has just been lodged with the Election Commission "on a most disgusting ad relating to Jharkhand put out by the BJP officially".
"It not only brazenly and blatantly violates the ECI's Model Code of Conduct, it is also an act of serious criminality. We hope the ECI will act immediately and pursue this matter to its logical conclusion," Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X on Sunday.
It was alleged that the video with baseless allegations is unduly influencing the voters and discouraging people from supporting parties opposed to BJP in Jharkhand assembly polls.
Sources said FIR no 176/24 dated 10.11.2024 has been filed at the Ranchi cybercrime police station for violation of MCC guidelines and extant legal provisions
Additionally, the cybercrime police station Ranchi, in a letter dated 10.11.2024, requested social media platforms to remove the objectionable posts under Section 69(A) of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000.
Earlier in the day, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh hit out at BJP, saying that the party's campaign is "devoid of issues" and focused solely on "communal polarization".
"The INDIA coalition's campaign in Jharkhand is centred around our government's achievements in the last five years and our seven guarantees - ranging from enhanced food rations to honorariums for women and new degree colleges in each block. We are focused on our governance and our vision for a just, inclusive, and prosperous Jharkhand," he wrote on X.
"The BJP's campaign is devoid of issues and focuses solely on communal polarisation. It is an indictment of the Union Government's performance that after ten years in power, the BJP is seeking votes only on religious polarisation. The non-biological PM has failed miserably to fulfil the promises he made to the state over the past ten years. Worse, he has denied almost Rs 1.4 lakh crore, which is legitimately due to Jharkhand on account of coal royalty," the Congress leader added.
Jairam Ramesh said the people will reject BJP in the assembly polls.
"On November 13th and 20th, the people of Jharkhand will vote decisively for continuity, communal harmony, social justice, and self-dignity. They will reject the wholly negative and disgusting campaign of the BJP," he said.
The first phase of Jharkhand Assembly elections will be held on November 13 and the second phase on November 20, with vote counting scheduled for November 23.
