The Delhi Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has refuted claims made by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) regarding the Election Commission’s supposed ban on its Lok Sabha campaign song, ‘Jail Ka Jawab, Vote Se Denge’. Contrary to AAP’s assertions, the poll body clarified that it has requested the party to make necessary changes to adhere to electoral guidelines.
Upon receiving AAP’s application seeking permission to utilize the song and video, the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) raised objections and instructed the party to modify the content before resubmission for certification. The application, submitted on April 25, elicited a response from the committee on Saturday.
In a letter dated April 27, the poll body highlighted several concerns regarding the song’s content. It pointed out that certain phrases, such as “Jail ke jawaab me hum vote denge” and “Tanashahi party ko hum chot denge”, were deemed contentious as they allegedly cast aspersions on the judiciary and could incite violence. Additionally, clips portraying the police unfavorably were flagged as problematic, including instances featuring former deputy CM Manish Sisodia.
Citing Rules 6 and 7 of the program code, the Election Commission underscored the importance of content adherence to prevent the encouragement of violence or propagation of anti-national sentiments. Consequently, it requested AAP to modify the song in accordance with the Advertising Codes prescribed under the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994, before resubmitting it for certification.
However, AAP has accused the poll body of succumbing to pressure from the BJP, alleging a biased approach in handling their campaign material. Senior AAP leader Atishi asserted that the song merely depicts factual events and does not violate the Model Code of Conduct. She criticized the Election Commission for allegedly turning a blind eye to BJP’s actions while scrutinizing AAP’s campaign material rigorously.
The ‘Jail Ka Jawab, Vote Se Denge’ song, penned and sung by AAP MLA Dilip Pandey, was introduced during an event at the AAP headquarters on April 25 as part of the party’s Lok Sabha campaign. Despite AAP’s claims of factual accuracy and non-partisanship, the Election Commission’s reservations have prompted a contentious debate surrounding freedom of expression and electoral regulations.
Furthermore, AAP’s ‘Walk for Kejriwal’ campaign, held in support of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is currently incarcerated, witnessed the party’s leaders rallying around the slogan ‘Jail ka jawab vote se’. The event, attended by AAP ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj, served as a platform to denounce what the party perceives as political vendettas orchestrated by rival factions.
As tensions escalate between AAP and the Election Commission, the issue highlights the delicate balance between free speech and electoral propriety in the Indian political landscape. While AAP contends that its campaign material reflects genuine grievances, the Election Commission’s regulatory stance underscores the need for caution to prevent the dissemination of potentially inflammatory content during the electoral process.
(With inputs from agencies
