EC revokes ban on Amit Shah from campaigning in UP, BJP welcomes the decision(Video)

New Delhi, 17 April 2014

Modifying earlier order, Election Commission today allowed BJP leader Amit Shah to resume his campaigning in Uttar Pradesh.

The earlier order to ban Shah was given in the wake of his “revenge” by voting remarks.

The EC allowed Shah to campaign following his undertaking that he won’t disturb public order and tranquility.

Cracking the whip against Shah and Azam Khan, the Election Commission had banned them from holding public meetings, processions or roadshows in UP and asked authorities to initiate criminal proceedings against them.

The EC had also directed the UP Chief Secretary to ensure no act of commission or omission is resorted to by Shah and Khan that can affect public tranquillity and law and order.

Shah had landed in a major controversy for telling a public meeting that the coming general election is an opportunity to seek “revenge for the insult” inflicted during the riots in Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh last year.

Earlier, Shah had also replied to the EC show cause notice for prima facie violating the Model Code after he received a copy of the CD of his alleged “hate speech”, as demanded by him.

In his reply Shah claimed that his “revenge” remarks should not be read in the way as construed and had simply told the voters to exercise their voting right to give a befitting reply to those who have ignored their issues.

BJP had said, such a punitive order has been issued which “prima facie is in the violation of the principle of natural justice”.