Hate speech: Election Commission bans rallies of Amit Shah, Azam Khan

The Election Commission (EC) on Friday banned Narendra Modi's close aide Amit Shah and Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan from holding public meetings, rallies or roadshows in Uttar Pradesh for making inflammatory speeches. This is the first time that the poll watchdog has taken strict action against political leaders during the ongoing elections.

Drawing powers vested under Article 324 of the Constitution, the EC asked the UP government to initiate criminal proceedings against the duo by filing FIRs. It found Shah and Khan guilty of violating several IPC sections which are non-baliable and invite punishment for 3-8 years.

"The commission has been observing with serious concern that Azam Khan and Amit Shah have been making highly inflammatory speeches. These statements promote enmity, hatred and ill-will and creating disharmony between communities on the ground of religion," the EC said.