The Election Commission has requested the Centre to guarantee no extra ‘Viksit Bharat’ messages are despatched on WhatsApp
The ECI issued the directive after it acquired complaints that regardless of MCC being in power, individuals have been receiving messages highlighting the union authorities’s initiatives on their cellphone.
The Election Commission of India on Thursday directed the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to be certain that no additional supply of ‘Viksit Bharat’ message on WhatsApp takes place because the Model Code of Conduct is in power forward of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The ECI issued the directive after it acquired complaints that regardless of MCC being in power, individuals have been receiving messages highlighting the union authorities’s initiatives on their cellphone.
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 power. “But due to system architecture and network limitations, it is possible that some letters have a delayed delivery,” the Ministry had stated.
The ECI directed the Ministry that it has to be certain that no additional supply of WhatsApp messages takes place throughout the MCC interval.
“The Commission has received complaints from various quarters that such messages are still being delivered on citizens’ phones. Since the MCC is now in force, you are, hereby, directed to ensure forthwith that no further delivery of WhatsApp messages takes place during MCC period. A compliance report in this regard may be sent immediately,” 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 power quickly after the elections have been introduced.
Several 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 cellphone. “This unsolicited WhatsApp message came at 12.09 AM today. It seems to be from @GoI_MeitY (Ministry of Electronics & IT). Is this not a blatant violation of the both Model Code of Conduct & Right to Privacy,” Tewari stated, asking how the ministry bought his cellular quantity.
The ECI introduced the schedule of the Lok Sabha polls on March 16. The 2024 Lok Sabha polls might be held in seven phases between April 19 and June 1 whereas the counting of the votes will happen on June 4.
