EC sends notice to Arvind Kejriwal for tweeting controversial video

The Election Commission has sent a notice to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for a video tweeted by him in the run-up to the Delhi Assembly Election. The tweet was posted on February 3.

The Election Commission sent the notice acting on a complaint filed by the BJP. In its complaint, the BJP accused Arvind Kejriwal of tweeting a video "with the intention of gaining votes by aggravating existing differences/creating mutual hatred/causing tension between religious communities in violation of the Model Code of Conduct".

The Election Commission has asked Arvind Kejriwal to respond to its notice by 5pm tomorrow. Voting for the Delhi Assembly election will start at 8am tomorrow.

In its notice, the Election Commission said prima facie it of the view that by uploading the controversial video on Twitter, Arvind Kejriwal has "violated the Model Code of Conduct and the Representation of the People Act".

The Commission said prima facie it believes that the video tweeted by Arvind Kejriwal has the "potential of disturbing communal harmony and aggravate the existing differences between social and religious communities".

"Therefore, the Commission gives you an opportunity to explain your position in making the above statement on or before 5pm on February 8, 2020, failing which the Commission shall take a decision without any further reference to you," the EC's notice read.

This is the second notice sent to Arvind Kejriwal by the Election Commission in the past 10 days. On January 30, the Commission warned him for promising to set up mohalla clinics inside a court complex in Delhi while addressing a gathering of lawyers.