What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
LUCKNOW: In view of sharp surge in Covid cases across the country, Uttar Pradesh Congress has written to the Election Commission (EC) demanding cancellation of mega events and big public meetings in the state.
The Congress also made a suggestion to the poll body to stop Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UP CM Yogi Adityanath from using government machinery for inaugurations and making political statements.
In a two page letter to Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra, Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Kumar Lallu, party’s CLP in state assembly Aradhna Mishra Mona, former MPs Pramod Tiwari and PL Punia and former state minister Nasimuddin Siddiqui urged the poll panel to cancel all big public meetings and promote virtual meetings, door to door campaigns and small public meetings.
The party also said that the poll panel should ensure to take care of all staff, frontline workers participating in the election process. The party also cited the example of several teachers who died during the second wave of covid while engaged in Panchayat elections in the state last year.
The party said, “As the elections are nearing in the state, the Prime Minister is holding several public meetings and is also inaugurating several projects. And while inaugurating these projects the government money and machinery is being used. But these inauguration events have become a tool of election campaigning.”
“The Prime Minister goes out of his way to make political statements and even his Twitter Handle has become a platform to make political statements. The poll panel must intervene and stop such usage of government machinery for making political statements,” it said.
The party further alleged that even Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Ministers are misusing government machineries and are giving unconstitutional and divisive speeches.
“Such speeches by them using government machinery clearly indicates that government is misusing its power and it must be stopped,” the party said.
The letter comes in the wake of surge in the number of Covid cases across the country. Earlier in the day, India recorded 58,097 fresh cases of Covid in last 24 hours.
According to UP Congress sources, the party has also announced cancellation of all big public meetings and marathons in the wake of third wave of Covid.
The decision came a day after several girls fell down during the ladki hu, lad sakti hu marathon organised in Bareilly.
Uttar Pradesh will be witnessing a high decibel assembly elections in coming months. The ruling BJP is facing Samajwadi Party and Congress in a bitter battle in the 403 member assembly in the state.
