Chhattisgarh elections 2023: Poll body notice to Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma for ‘Akbar’ comment

financialexpress.com:

The Election Commission of India (ECI) issued a show cause notice to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday for his ‘Akbar’ remark during the Chhattisgarh poll campaign, calling it “communally charged”.

The poll body has asked Sarma to respond to the notice by 5 pm on Monday, October 30.

Also Read: Chhattisgarh Election 2023: BJP and Congress Full List of Candidates

This action came after Congress lodged complaints against Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma with the ECI, alleging that their remarks during the Chhattisgarh assembly poll campaign violated the model code of conduct, as reported by ANI.

The Congress’ complaint against Sarma pertained to a speech he delivered in Chhattisgarh’s Kawardha on October 18 while campaigning against Congress candidate Mohammad Akbar.

Also Read: Chhattisgarh Election 2023: Full list of BJP candidates and their constituencies

The party alleged that during his speech, Sarma had said, “If one Akbar comes to some place, he calls 100 Akbars. So, send him off as soon as possible, otherwise the land of Mata Kaushalya will get defiled.”

“So that’s why, brothers and sisters, you people have to save Chhattisgarh. This sacred land of Maa Kaushalya has to be saved, and hence all of you should make Vijay Bhaiya victorious,” Sarma said, referring to the BJP candidate from Kawardha.

Also Read: Chhattisgarh Election 2023: Full list of Congress candidates

The ECI notice to Sarma mentioned that the BJP leader violated the model code of conduct, which came into effect on October 9. During his speech in Kawardha in Chhattisgarh on October 18, Sarma had taken a controversial dig at Akbar, saying that “the land of Mata Kaushalya will get defiled if