Lok Sabha elections: EC bans Congress’ Randeep Surjewala from campaigning for 48 hours over his remarks on Hema Malini

The Election Commission banned Congress leader Randeep Surjewala on Tuesday from campaigning for 48 hours over his “derogatory remarks” about BJP leader Hema Malini. 

The poll body issued a show-cause notice to Surjewala for allegedly making "undignified, uncivilized, and vulgar" remarks about Hema Malini. It stated that it carefully reviewed the contents and statements provided in Surjewala's reply.

"The commission without prejudice to any order/notice issued or to be issued subsequently to him in the matter relating to MCC violations, hereby, strongly condemns the impugned statement made by him during the election campaign held in Haryana and reprimands Randeep Surjewala for the misconduct," the poll watchdog said.

The commission, under Article 324 of the Constitution and all other powers enabling in this behalf, bars Surjewala 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, it said.

The EC had earlier said that on careful examination, the comments were found to be "highly undignified, vulgar and uncivilised" and to be prima facie violative of the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct and the poll panel's advisory issued to parties last month.

This is the first campaign ban imposed by the poll body in this Lok Sabha election cycle.

Vulgar, sexist, and disparaging: BJP on Surjewala's remarks

The controversy arose after a video, shared by BJP IT department head Amit Malviya, purportedly depicted Surjewala making objectionable statements about Hema Malini while criticizing the BJP.

The BJP lodged a complaint with the EC, condemning Surjewala's remarks as "vulgar, sexist, and disparaging."

Surjewala, however, defended himself, claiming that the video was doctored and manipulated. He asserted that he never intended to offend or demean the BJP MP.