The Election Commission of India “strongly condemned” Congress leader Randeep Surjewala’s objectionable remarks against BJP MP Hema Malini on Tuesday, barring him from doing any kind of election campaigning for 48 hours.
The Commission “strongly condemns the impugned statement made by him” during the election campaign held in Haryana and reprimands Surjewala For the misconduct.
“The Commission, under Article 324 of the Constitution of India and all other powers enabling in this behalf, bars him from holding any public meetings, public processions, public rallies, road shows and interviews, public utterances in media (electronic, print, social media) etc., in connection with ongoing elections for 48 hours from 6 pm on April 16 (Tuesday),” the ECI’s order read.
The poll-governing body had issued a show-cause notice to Surjewala for his alleged “undignified, vulgar and uncivilised” remarks against the BJP leader on April 9.
It also sought a response from Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge on the steps taken to ensure strict compliance with its advisories on upholding the honour and dignity of women during public discourse by its leaders.
The Commission had received a complaint from the Bharatiya Janata Party on April 5, alleging that Surjewala made sexist, vulgar and unethical public utterances against the dignity of BJP MP Hema Malini while campaigning in Haryana, in violation of the provisions and Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
Surjewala in his response to the ECI claimed that “the video cited by the complainant allegedly containing aforesaid utterances was a doctored video.”
But the Commission, after “carefully” examining the video and from a report of DEO Kaithal was convinced that Surjewala had made the statements and violated the provisions of MCC.
“The entire speech was videographed by the video surveillance team deployed by DEO. To confirm the veracity of the allegation about the aforesaid remarks being made in the speech, the Commission also examined the video of the speech submitted by DEO-Kaithal,” the poll body added.
The Commission said, “It has been further alleged that the following comments made by you have not only caused great insult to Hema Malini and disrespect to her position as a Member of Parliament but also heaped insult upon all women legislators and women in public life or otherwise.”
On April 4, BJP’s IT Cell Head Amit Malviya had shared a video of Surjewala’s alleged remark from a campaign rally and said he made a “vile, sexist comment, that is demeaning and derogatory, not just for Hema Malini, who is an accomplished individual, but women in general.”
“He asks, “MLA/MP kyun banate hain? Taaki vo humari awaaz utha sake, humare baat manvaye, isliye banate honge. Koi Hema Malini toh nahi, jo chatne ke liye banate hai?” [“Why make MLA/MP? So that they can raise our voice, get our views accepted, that is why they must be making it. It is no Hema Malini, who’s made to lick?”], Malviya’s X post read.
Haryana Women Commission had also sent notice to Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala over his ‘indecent remarks’ against BJP MP Hema Malini. It had also sent a notice to Congress’ Haryana unit president asking him to take action in this matter and submit a report.
(With inputs from Nivedita Singh)
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