Delhi polls 2020: Strip Anurag Thakur, Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma of star campaigner tag, says EC

NEW DELHI: Taking cognisance of their "provocative" statements during poll rallies, the EC on Wednesday asked BJP to remove junior finance minister Anurag Thakur and West Delhi MP Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma from its list of star campaigners for Delhi polls.
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The EC also served a separate showcause notice to Verma asking him to explain his position by January 30 on his statements that had the "potential to disturb harmony" and "aggravate differences" between religious and social communities.
Being stripped of "star campaigner" status means that although Thakur and Verma can still campaign, the money spent on their meetings and rallies would now be added to the poll expenditure of the candidate.
BJP will take cognisance if Anurag Thakur, Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma said anything wrong: Prakash Javadekar
While there’s no limit on poll campaign expenditure of political parties, candidates can spend a maximum of Rs 28 lakh in Delhi assembly polls.
In a separate letter to political parties, the EC said several instances of “undesirable public utterances” in violation of the model code of conduct (MCC) had come to its notice. It asked political parties to ensure that their candidates and other functionaries observed the MCC provisions.
Responding to a question on the EC order, a senior BJP functionary said the party had received EC’s direction but yet to study it. “We will see the order and, if necessary make a representation to present our side,” he said. Talking to reporters, Union minister Prakash Javadekar said if the two leaders had said anything wrong, the party will take cognisance of it.
Addressing an election rally in northwest Delhi’s Rithala on Monday, Thakur had slammed the anti-CAA protesters and egged on the crowd to raise an incendiary slogan by repeatedly saying “Desh ke gaddaron ko” and the crowd responding with “goli maron saalon ko” (Shoot the traitors). The poll panel had issued a show cause notice on Tuesday asking him to reply by January 30.
Verma had drawn a parallel between the Shaheen Bagh protest and the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley in the late 1980s and early 1990s and said he “feared” that a similar “fire” may soon spread in the national capital.
“Lakhs of people gather there (Shaheen Bagh)... They will enter your houses, rape your sisters and daughters, and kill them. There’s time today, Modi ji and Amit Shah won’t come to save you tomorrow,” the West Delhi MP had said, adding that attempts were being made to spread “jihad” across the capital.