“AAP VIOLATED MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT” ,SAYS POLL PANEL

New Delhi: The Delhi Chief Electoral Office today sent its report to the Election Commission of India (ECI) recommending action over the alleged protest by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supporters outside BJP headquarters here recently.

According to the sources, the Chief Electoral Officer Vijay Dev has sent his report after receiving the District Election Officer’s (DEO) report which said that it was not satisfied with the AAP’s reply to the show cause notice issued to them and that the incident was a violation of the model code of conduct.

AAP may get a censure from the Election Commission for the protest which turned violent outside the BJP headquarters on March 5.

However, the final decision will be taken by ECI as to what action be initiated against AAP.

BJP had approached the ECI demanding derecognition of AAP for the incident.

The AAP had on March 7, in its reply to the show cause notice issued by DEO on the protest by its workers, had said that the protest was an “instant reaction” to its chief Arvind Kejriwal’s detention in Gujarat.

It had said that the protest was not a “planned event” and maintained that it respects the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in force ahead of Lok Sabha polls scheduled to begin from next month.

Delhi Police in its report to DEO of New Delhi had accused AAP protesters of indulging in “riotous acts and using criminal force” to prevent police from discharging their duty.

According to the report, four policemen, 16 AAP workers, nine BJP workers and a media person suffered injuries during the scuffle and were taken to RML Hospital.

BJP has also submitted the footages of the protest to the DEO.