TRENDING TAGS :
EC desists parties from using photo of 'Armed Forces' in campaign
On Saturday, EC wrote a letter to political parties referring to its December 4, 2013 guidelines, in which it had called upon all political parties to advise their candidates and leaders "to desist from displaying photographs of defence personnel or photographs of functions involving defence personnel in advertisements or as part of their election campaign".
New Delhi: Reiterating its 2013 instructions, Election Commission, on Saturday, directed all political parties and its candidates to not use photos of armed forces and functions of the defence forces in their poll campaigns, to fulfill political propaganda for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
“The ministry of defence has brought to the notice of the Election Commission (EC) that photographs of the defence personnel are being used by political parties, their leaders and candidates in advertisements as part of their election propaganda,” the EC said in a statement.
The Election Commission came down harsh on parties after an image of Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman in a political poster went viral on social media.
Refuting EC's guidlines BJP used photos, name and reference of IAF pilot Abhinandan on many instances and also used his fame to cash-in its political agenda by politicizing the anti-terror strike on Pakistan after Pulwama attack.
In a similar instance, Aam Aadmi Party also made a direct reference to IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman in a recent rally.
On Saturday, EC wrote a letter to political parties referring to its December 4, 2013 guidelines, in which it had called upon all political parties to advise their candidates and leaders "to desist from displaying photographs of defence personnel or photographs of functions involving defence personnel in advertisements or as part of their election campaign". It also had stated,“The photographs of Chief of Army Staff or any other defence personnel, and photographs of functions of defence forces should not be associated with or used in any manner in advertisement/propaganda/campaigning or in any other manner in connection with elections by political parties and candidates.”
"The commission reiterates the instructions for strict compliance," the letter said.
Calling the armed forces “guardians” of a country’s “frontiers, security and political system”, the Election Commission warned the parties against making reference to them in their poll campaigns. “Armed forces are apolitical and neutral stakeholders in a modern democracy. It is therefore necessary that the political parties and leaders exercise great caution while making any reference to the armed forces in their political campaigns,” the EC said.
Wing Commander Varthaman was captured by pakistan army after he had shot down a Pakistan Air Force F-16 fighter aircraft on February 27 during an aerial engagement with Pakistan Air Force. But his plane was hit in the aerial combat and he had landed in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. He was later released by Pakistan as a "peace gesture".
