MEMORANDUM

April 12th, 2019

Ref. No: 0021A/2019

PM’S SPEECH IN LATUR, MAHARASHTRA

INDEX

SL.NO Particulars Page

No.s
1. Representation 2-4

2. Annexure I : 5-13
Copy of the news items & video of PM’s speech in
Latur.

3. Annexure II: 14-17

Copy of the EC’s notifications dated 04.12.2013,
09.03.2019 & 19.03.2019

1
 MEMORANDUM

April 12th, 2019

Ref. No: 0021A/2019

To,

Chief Election Commissioner &

His Companion Election Commissioners of India

The Election Commission of India,

Nirvachan Sadan
New Delhi - 110001

Dear Sirs,

RE: PM’S SPEECH IN LATUR, MAHARASTHRA

REQUEST FOR URGENT AND NECESSARY DIRECTIONS TO

THE PRIME MINISTER FOR VIOLATING THE DIRECTIONS
ISSUED IN ECI LETTER NO. 437/6/INST/2019/MCC DATED
19.03.2019

This is to bring to your urgent attention certain serious and grave

concerns that the Hon’ble Commission needs to take immediate note of.

I.
On April 09th 2019, on the last day of campaigning for the first phase of
General Elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has deliberately and
with clear intent, invoked the Defence personnel during his speech in
Latur, Maharashtra, as a part of his election campaign propaganda.

2
The Prime Minister while speaking at the rally, made an ostensible
appeal to first time voters. He said;

“Mein zara kehna chhahta hoon mere first-time voteron

ko.
Kya aapka pehla vote Pakistan ke Balakot mein
air strike karnewale veer jawanon ke naam
samarpit ho sakta hai kya?

Mein mere first-time voter se kehna chhahta

hoon ki aapka pehla vote Pulwama mein jo veer
shahid hue hain un veer shahidon ke naam aapka
vote samarpit ho sakta hai kya?”

In other words, the Prime Minister fully aware of the injunction on the
use of the armed forces for petty political purposes, made an appeal for
votes in the name of the armed forces. This is evident

A copy of the news items & video of PM’s speech in Latur are annexed
herewith and marked as ANNEXURE – I.

II.
Such blatant and brazen act despite this Hon’ble Commission’s Order, is
in direct violation of following directions issued by this Hon’ble
Commission:

A. Letter no. 437/6/INST/2013/CCD&BE dated 04.12.2013;

B. Letter no. 437/6/INST/2019/MCC dated 09.03.2019; and

C. Memorandum 437/6/INST/2019/MCC dated 19.03.2019.

The Letter dated 19.03.2019 of this Hon’ble Commissions reads as

under:

“In continuation of the general advisory, issued vide the

Commission’s letter of even number dated 09.03.2019,
regarding desisting from displaying of photographs of
Defence personnel or photographs of functions involving
Defence personnel in advertisements by the
candidates/political parties, the political

3
 parties/candidates are further advised that their
campaigners/candidates should desist, as part of
their election campaigning, from indulging in
any political propaganda involving activities of
the Defence forces.”

A copy of the EC’s notifications dated 04.12.2013, 09.03.2019 &

19.03.2019 are annexed herein and marked as ANNEXURE – II

III.

It is submitted that evidently the Prime Minister’s violations have grown

ever more brazen with a clear double standard of treatment emerging.

Furthermore, ECI must be able to enforce what it commands.

Mere censures or rebukes have clearly proven to be

ineffectual. Unless the ECI takes a strong stand then it is
reasonable to expect that such violations will continue
without consequence.

Respectfully, it is requested that this Hon’ble Commission

exercises its vast and expansive powers under Article 324 to
take necessary and exemplary action to bring such habitual
violations at complete halt.

We hope the Commission treats these matters with the attention they
deserve.

Warm Regards