The Election Fee has requested the Centre to make sure no extra ‘Viksit Bharat’ messages are despatched on WhatsApp
The ECI issued the directive after it acquired complaints that regardless of MCC being in drive, folks have been receiving messages highlighting the union authorities’s initiatives on their telephone.
The Election Fee of India on Thursday directed the Ministry of Electronics and Info Know-how to make sure that no additional supply of ‘Viksit Bharat’ message on WhatsApp takes place because the Mannequin Code of Conduct is in drive forward of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The ECI issued the directive after it acquired complaints that regardless of MCC being in drive, folks have been receiving messages highlighting the union authorities’s initiatives on their telephone.
In an earlier letter, the Ministry informed the ballot physique that the WhatsApp messages have been despatched out on March 15, earlier than the MCC got here into drive. “However because of system structure and community limitations, it’s doable that some letters have a delayed supply,” the Ministry had stated.
The ECI directed the Ministry that it has to make sure that no additional supply of WhatsApp messages takes place throughout the MCC interval.
“The Fee has acquired complaints from varied quarters that such messages are nonetheless being delivered on residents’ telephones. For the reason that MCC is now in drive, you might be, hereby, directed to make sure forthwith that no additional supply of WhatsApp messages takes place throughout MCC interval. A compliance report on this regard could also be despatched instantly,” the ballot physique added.
On Monday, opposition events raised the difficulty of individuals receiving Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s letter on WhatsApp searching for assist in constructing a ‘Viksit Bharat’. The events termed this as “blatant violation” of the MCC, which got here into drive quickly after the elections have been introduced.
A number of Congress leaders additionally raised the difficulty on social media platforms. In a put up on X, Congress MP Manish Tewari shared the letter which he acquired on his telephone. “This unsolicited WhatsApp message got here at 12.09 AM at this time. It appears to be from @GoI_MeitY (Ministry of Electronics & IT). Is that this not a blatant violation of the each Mannequin Code of Conduct & Proper to Privateness,” Tewari stated, asking how the ministry received his cell quantity.
The ECI introduced the schedule of the Lok Sabha polls on March 16. The 2024 Lok Sabha polls will likely be held in seven phases between April 19 and June 1 whereas the counting of the votes will happen on June 4.
