Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Electoral Officer Teeka Ram Meena on Monday warned candidates and political parties against using women entry in Sabarimala as an issue to catch votes during the ensuing Lok Sabha polls.
At a press conference here, Mr Meena cautioned that raising religious issues, polarising people in the name of religion and unleashing propaganda on religious lines would amount to a violation of model code of conduct.He said using religious symbols, issues and appeals go against the code of conduct.
“Citing, invoking or doing some sort of religious propaganda based on Sabarimala issue or Supreme Court judgment will be a clear violation of model code of conduct. We will take action in such matters,” he said.
The CEO said while Sabarimala issue could be discussed politically it cannot be used for stirring communal sentiments particularly that of Hindus and that will not be accepted. The question should not be given a religious dimension or used to appeal to the religious sensibilities of a particular community or a specific religious group or against another group or political party,” he said.
Mr Meena said any party seeking electoral gains based on pro-Hindu or anti-Hindu sentiments would be subjected to appropriate action from Election Commission.
The CEO has convened an all-party meeting on Wednesday to discuss all issues connected with the model code of conduct.
The state was on the boil following LDF government’s decision to implement Supreme Court verdict in September allowing women of all age groups to enter Sabarimala temple. The BJP-Sangh Parivar had organised an aggressive campaign against the government which on many occasions turned violent.
