Delhi HC junks plea to disqualify PM Modi from contesting elections

NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Monday dismissed a plea that sought direction to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to disqualify Prime Minister

Narendra Modi

for allegedly seeking

votes

for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by invoking religious sentiments during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.
The plea, which raised concerns about the Prime Minister purportedly appealing for votes in the name of religious deities and places of worship, was deemed "thoroughly misconceived" by the court.

In its ruling, the court asserted that it does not have the jurisdiction to direct the ECI to adopt a particular stance on any complaint.
While dismissing the plea, the court said, "The petition is thoroughly misconceived and the court can't direct ECI to take a particular view on any complaint."
The petitioner had specifically cited a speech delivered by PM

Modi

at Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, where he allegedly sought votes by appealing to voters in the name of Hindu deities, Hindu places of worship, as well as Sikh deities and Sikh places of worship.

Appearing for ECI, advocate Sidhant Kumar opposed the plea, saying that the commission deals with such applications on a daily basis and will take action as per the law. He assured the court that the ECI is a constitutional body committed to upholding the integrity of the electoral process. Kumar said, "We have filed the representation and we will process it."
(With inputs from agencies)