Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Union Minister and BJP candidate from Thiruvananthapuram Rajeev Chandrasekhar has despatched a legal notice to Congress chief Shashi Tharoor, accusing the MP of making defamatory statements in opposition to him. In his notice, the BJP chief has accused Tharoor of disseminating “patently false information” concerning the bribing of key voters and influential figures akin to parish monks, amongst others, by the BJP candidate.
In the notice, Chandrasekhar has sought Tharoor to “immediately withdraw” all of the allegations made in opposition to him and tender an “unconditional public apology”. Notably, Chandrasekhar has been pitted in opposition to Tharoor within the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency, which can vote on April 26.
Statements made to hurt Chandrasekhar’s status and picture
The legal notice additionally states that Tharoor has made these statements “with an intent to harm” Rajeev Chandrasekhar’s status and picture. It stated that the Congress MP’s remarks additionally disrespected the whole Christian group of Thiruvananthapuram and its leaders, as he had accused them of participating in cash-for-votes actions.
Chandrasekhar has expressed ‘shock’ on the allegations made by Shashi Tharoor in a TV interview by a Kerala-based information group. “Shocked and surprised to watch the news video dated 06.04.2024 on a Malayalam news channel named 24 News, wherein you, the Noticee (Shashi Tharoor), made defamatory statements alleging that Our Client (Rajeev Chandrasekhar) had indulged in illegal activities of offering money to voters and that Our Client is spreading lies in Christian communities. Not only are the said statements totally and completely false but it is clear that the same was made with the clear mala fide intent to tarnish the reputation of Our Client to try and gain an unfair advantage in the upcoming elections,” the legal notice additional stated.
The Congress MP’s statements have been additionally in violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
The notice additional claimed the statements have been additionally focused at injuring the BJP chief’s election marketing campaign and benefitting Tharoor within the elections. “It is apprehended that you (Shashi Tharoor) have concocted these allegations and circulated them to influence the voters in Thiruvananthapuram. It is feared that you have engaged in spreading such false news to subvert the process of free and fair elections,” the notice additional added.
‘Tender an unconditional public apology’
It sought Tharoor to instantly withdraw all of the allegations made in opposition to Chandrashekhar and tender an unconditional public apology to him. “Immediately withdraw all the allegations and aspersions made by you the Noticee against Our Client, i.e. Rajeev Chandrashekhar on the aforesaid news channel dated 06.04.2024; Tender an unconditional public apology to Our Client to his satisfaction through print and electronic media about the said baseless allegations and aspersions made by you the Noticee; and Immediately cease, refrain and desist from defaming, harassing, hampering the reputation of Our Client and spreading any uncalled for rumour and stop indulging in any such activities in the future,” the notice learn.
Failure to adjust to the acknowledged situations inside 24 hours of receipt of the notice would lead to initiation of acceptable prison and civil proceedings in a reliable court docket of legislation, the BJP candidate warned.
‘Shashi Tharoor, in desperation…’
Speaking with ANI, the Union Minister stated that the Congress chief seemingly made the allegations “in his desperation”. “I feel Shashi Tharoor, in his desperation, has flung rather a lot of allegations at me. One of the allegations is that I’m paying cash for votes. I’ve stated very clearly that, I can’t be drawn into this adverse sort of politics. However, if anyone defames me and makes an attempt to trespass into an space by telling lies about me, I’ll actually not be quiet. I’ll actually use all of the instruments underneath the legislation to be certain that that individual is held accountable,” he stated.
Earlier, the Election Commission issued a directive instructing the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to confirm any ‘mismatch’ within the affidavit particulars supplied by Union Minister Chandrasekhar, who’s contesting from the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat. This got here after the Congress lodged a grievance with the ballot panel, claiming a mismatch in precise and declared belongings within the affidavit filed by Chandrasekhar.
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