GUWAHATI: The Election Commission on Friday night, March 29 said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the nation regarding the successful test-firing of the anti-satellite (ASAT) missile did not violate the provisions of the model code of conduct (MCC).
This decision was taken by the poll panel on the basis of a report prepared by a committee of officers which concluded that PM Modi’s address did not violate the provisions for ‘party in power’ in the poll code.
The report stated that, "the committee has, therefore, reached the conclusion that the MCC provision regarding misuse of official mass media...is not attracted in the instant case."
The Model Code of Conduct is in place for the April-May parliamentary election and some state polls which states that the issue of advertisement at the cost of public exchequer in newspapers and other media and the misuse of mass media to gain publicity and popularity during the election period has to be “scrupulously avoided.”
Based on a report by The Hindu, a senior functionary of the committee said, "he did not seek vote. He did not describe the missile launch as an achievement of the government. He only hailed the scientists. There was no electioneering involved."
There was also an opinion among some officers of the Commission that “the speech did not violate the model code in letter, but that they cannot say about the spirit of the code."
On Wednesday, March 27, PM Modi had addressed the nation as India shot down one of its satellites in space with an anti-satellite missile (ASAT), making India the fourth country to do so. This mission was titled, ‘Mission Shakti.’
The announcement was made in a broadcast to the nation on television, radio and social media.
