The EC's director general, Sudeep Jain said, the FIR has been filed for violations of section 126 (1b) of the representation of people's act and section 188 of the IPC.
Barely a day after finding the union ministries of home affairs and department of north-eastern region (DoNER) on the wrong foot for felicitating five sportspersons from Manipur in the midst of polls, the Election Commission yet again sought explanation from the BJP for publishing advertisements in eight Manipuri newspapers.
On the basis of a report by Manipur election authorities, the EC on Friday directed the state chief electoral officer to get the FIRs filed. Theadvertisements were published on Friday itself barely 24 hours ahead of the first phase of elections in the state.
The EC's director general, Sudeep Jain said, the FIR has been filed for violations of section 126 (1b) of the representation of people's act and section 188 of the IPC.
The Commission has identified the papers as Sangai Express — Manipuri and English editions — Poknapham, People's Chronicle, Naharolgi, Thoudang, Imphal Free Press, Echel Express and Huiyen Lanpao.
Jain said the commission has received the replies from secretaries of both the ministries and will pass order after ascertaining them.
Each of the nine sportspersons felicitated were presented with a cash award of Rs 2 lakh and a memento by the minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju and minister of DoNER Dr Jitendra Singh on February 28.
In what amount to further violation, Dr. Singh, in his capacity of a minister, told the sportspersons that the North Eastern Region is on a high priority for the Central Government.
He also said that it is evident from the fact that three months after taking over as the Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the setting up of a Sports University in Manipur. The Central Government is making all efforts in materializing this project and pursuing with the Manipur Government, added Dr. Singh.
While there is no bar on the publication of election advertisements 48 hours before the polling, a rule introduced by the Commission during the Bihar Assembly polls says that such advertisements should be cleared by its media certification and monitoring committee (MCMC).
It states that without approval no newspaper will publish such advertisements. The new rule was enforced after the BJP brought out some controversial advertisements during the Bihar elections.
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