Election Commission bars Navjot Singh Sidhu from rallies for 72 hours

New Delhi: The Election Commission has barred Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu from campaigning in connection with ongoing Lok Sabha polls for 72 hours.

The prohibition for holding any public meeting, roadshow, public rally and interviews will start from 10 am on April 23, the ECI said in a statement issued on Monday.

The decision comes in the wake of an alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by Sidhu.

The ECI condemned the statements made by the Congress leader while campaigning in Barsoi and Barari areas of Katihar district in Bihar.

Earlier in the day, the poll body had issued a notice to Mr Sidhu seeking an explanation within 24 hours for his remarks “urging Muslims to not split votes”, made during a rally on April 16 in Katihar in Bihar.

Mr Sidhu, while addressing a rally, had warned Muslims not to split their votes and instead defeat the BJP by voting against it unitedly.

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