Patna: The Grand Secular Alliance in Bihar was left fuming as BJP mounted a fresh attack by publishing an advertisement in local newspapers raking up the beef issue asking Nitish Kumar what he felt about statements made by his colleagues.
BJP through their advertisement which was published on Thursday highlighted Raghuvansh Prasad Singh’s and Karn-ataka Chief Minister Sidhramiah’s statement in which he had said “who will stop me if I eat beef”.
BJP in its advertisement which showed a girl embracing a cow said “Chief Minister watched in silence while his colleagues insulted holy cow which is treated as sacred by all Indians”.
Seeking Nitish Kumar’s reply on the issue the BJP asked him to “stop doing vote bank politics and say what you feel about statements of your allies”. Advertisement against Nitish Kumar also stated “no answer no votes”.
The advertisement was published a day ahead of fifth and final phase of polling for 57 seats spread across nine districts of Mithilanchal and Muslim dominated Seemanchal areas of the state.
The BJP, however, defended its action with senior party leader Sushil Kumar Modi saying, “There is nothing wrong in our advertisement on beef issue. We were not the first to raise the issue (of beef). It was Lalu who did. We have just responded.”
However, the EC apparently felt otherwise when it said despite its advisory against publishing advertisements that have the potential of promoting ill-will, certain ads of “offending nature” have been brought to its notice which were published in newspapers in Bihar.
Though the BJP defended its action, the Election Commission banned publication of advertisements by any party or candidate in newspapers on Thursday without those being “pre-certified”. It is for the first time that the EC has issued such a directive for the print media. After a 2004 SC order, such restrictions had been imposed on radio and TV ads and, in 2013, social media was also included.
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