The Election Commission of India Thursday asked the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to halt sending out Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s letter on WhatsApp days after the Opposition had written to the poll panel to act against what they said was a “blatant violation” of the model code of conduct.
The poll body has also sought a compliance report immediately from the Ministry.
Millions of Indians received a WhatsApp message from ‘Viksit Bharat Sampark’, including a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi attached.
The letter highlights ‘achievements’ of the Modi government over the past 10 years.
Indian expatriates and even citizens from various countries including UAE, Pakistan, and Britain received Modi’s ‘Viksit Bharat Sampark’ messages.
Opposition leaders and election experts said this is a violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
Multiple non-BJP lawmakers formally complained to the Election Commission, alleging a “blatant violation” of the MCC.
Digital rights experts also called it as a data breaching and using data for electoral gains.
“This is prima-facie case of Model Code of Conduct violation,” Vinay Pratap Singh, Chandigarh returning officer-cum-deputy commissioner, said to The Wire.
This comes after Chandigarh resident filed a complaint through the ECI’s C-Vigil App, alleging Modi’s WhatsApp message to be a misuse of government machinery during elections.
