As directed by the Election Commission, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday publicly condemned the controversial CD that was allegedly distributed during the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.
New Delhi, May 11 : As directed by the Election Commission, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday publicly condemned the controversial CD that was allegedly distributed during the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.
The BJP issued an official statement, saying the party has no hesitation in doing so and it "categorically declares that it does not approve the contents of the CD and strongly condemns the same".
However, the party maintained its right to question the jurisdiction of the three-member Election Commission, which has Election Commissioner Navin Chawla as one of its members, to pass such an order.
The statement said that the party had already stated before the Election Commission that it does not support or approve the contents of the impugned CD.
"Since this fact was reported in the media, the party suo moto on April 4, 2007 itself issued a clarification that it had not prepared, produced, distributed or permitted the release of the impugned CD. Public statements to this effect were issued both at New Delhi and Lucknow," it added.
The party further said that it simultaneously expressed regret to the Chief Electoral Officer, Lucknow for the mistake of some individual. "The Party identified a particular person as responsible for this lapse and relinquished him of his then responsibilities".
Early this week, the Commission came down heavily on the BJP for defending the contents of the controversial CD after having disowned it, and directed the latter to make an official declaration condemning the contents.
EC said it has seen some press reports and has received complaints from several political parties, including the Congress, the BSP, and the CPI(M) that the BJP was trying to mislead the EC on the issue.
"Certainly, this has created a doubt - a genuine doubt - in the minds of the general public whether the respondent party (BJP) has disowned the CD and condemned its contents or stands by its contents and defends the same," EC said in an order.
The Commission said that such declaration by the BJP should be made "urgently" and be given wide publicity at both national and local levels, particularly in Uttar Pradesh. "A compliance report in this behalf should be sent by the respondent party (BJP) to the Commission by May 15," it added.
ANI