North India Statesman
News India Live, Digital Desk: On the last day of election campaigning in Bihar, Union Minister and JD-U President Lalan Singh is in trouble over one of his alleged controversial statements. Taking cognizance of a video released by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Election Commission has ordered to register an FIR against Lalan Singh. In this video, Lalan Singh is allegedly heard telling his supporters not to allow some voters to leave their homes on the day of voting.
What is the whole matter?
The matter is of Mokama assembly constituency, where Lalan Singh was campaigning for JD-U candidate Anant Singh. During this time, RJD shared a video on its social media account. RJD alleged that in the video, Lalan Singh is telling his workers that “The poor should not be allowed to leave the house on the day of voting! They should be locked in the house, if they move too much then they should be taken along with them and allowed to vote.”
Election Commission’s tough stance on RJD’s complaint
RJD demanded immediate action from the Election Commission with this video and also raised questions on the impartiality of the Commission. Taking immediate cognizance of the complaint, the Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar first issued a notice to Lalan Singh seeking his reply. Later, after investigation, on the instructions of the Election Commission, a case was registered against Lalan Singh in Mokama.
JDU gave clarification, said- video was tampered
JD-U has given its reaction on this entire controversy. The party says that Lalan Singh’s video has been tampered with and is being misrepresented. However, the Election Commission has taken this action considering the matter prima facie as serious.
This incident has heated up the politics of Bihar on the last day of election campaign. While the opposition is calling it an attack on democracy, the ruling party is calling it a political conspiracy. Now the truth will come out in this matter only after the legal process.