Rahul Gandhi Asked to be 'More Careful', 'Cautious' in His Comments by ECI After Delhi HC Directions

The Election Commission of India has asked Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to be “more careful” and “cautious” in his comments, weeks after the Delhi High Court directed the poll body to act against him for allegedly calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi “panauti” (unlucky) and “jaib katra” (pickpocket).

Gandhi received the warning ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The term of the current Lok Sabha is ending in June and elections are likely to be held before that. The court, in its December 2023 order, had observed that the statements were not in good taste. The EC was given eight weeks to take the action.

According to sources, Gandhi has been asked to be more careful in his statements in future and to follow the EC advisory issued last week, in which political parties have been asked to focus on issue-based debates.

READ MORE | ‘Maintain Decorum, Avoid Abuse, Remarks on Places of Worship’: Poll Panel Warns Parties Before Lok Sabha Battle

The EC had issued a notice to the senior Congress leader in November 2023 for allegedly calling Modi panauti and jaib katra. The notice was based on a complaint by the BJP for his alleged remarks at a public rally in Rajasthan’s Barmer district while campaigning for the assembly polls.

In the election rally, he blamed the prime minister for India’s loss in the ICC World Cup 2023 and reportedly said “PM means Panauti Modi”. “It is alleged that comparing a prime minister to a ‘jaib katra’ (pickpocket) and using the word ‘panauti’ is unbecoming of a senior leader of the national political party. Further, the allegation of a grant of waivers of Rs 14,00,000 crore for the past nine years, is asserted by the BJP, as not borne out on facts. Furthermore, they are allegedly in violation of Section 123(4) of the Representation of the People Act, sections 171G, 504, 505 (2), and 499 of the IPC and provisions of the model code of conduct,” the notice stated.