Breaking: FIR against Nadda, Sonowal, Dass over 'misleading' election advert in Assam newspapers

GUWAHATI: The legal wing of the Assam Congress has filed an FIR against BJP president J P Nadda, chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, state unit president Ranjeet Dass, among others, for publishing a 'misleading advertisement' in several leading dailies of the states predicting a BJP clean sweep in the first stage of the polls.

"In a pre-planned conspiracy and in order to deceive and defraud the voters of the state of Assam, Sri Sarbananda Sonwal (CM), Sri J. P. Nadda (National President of BJP), Sri Ranjit Kumar Dass (Assam State President, BJP) and other BJP Members and functionaries, willfully and knowingly have today (i.e. on 28-03-2021) issued advertisements camouflaged as Political Predictions as Headlines on front pages of various News Papers throughout Assam by which the said persons have disseminated false/untrue outcome of the results of the 152 Phase of Voting in the state of Assam and have falsely claimed that BJP TO WIN ALL CONSTITUENCIES OF UPPER ASSAM", the FIR, a copy of which is available with InsideNE, said.

In its FIR, which was lodged at the Dispur Police Station, the Congress argued that the "said advertisements have been presented in a manner on the front page of every newspaper to prejudice the mind of the voters of Assam."

It further alleged that by commissioning the advertisement, the saffron party has violated the Election Commission's order issued under Section 126A of Representation of People's Act.

Under the circumstances aforesaid it is therefore prayed before your honour to take prompt and necessary action against Sri Sarbananda Sonwal (CM), Sri ]. P. Nadda (National President of BP), Sri Ranjit Kumar Dass (Assam State President, BJP) and each and every BJP Members and functionaries who are directly involved in the aforesaid blatant violation of the Model Code of Conduct and the offence punishable under 126A of the Representation of Peoples Act,1951 as well as to take appropriate action against the News Publications and Newspapers for abetting the crime committed by the above persons under Section 126A of the Representation of People's Act," the FIR further added.

In its complain, the Congress has named six prominent dailies — ‘Dainik Axom’, ‘Axomia Khabar’, ‘Niyamiya Barta’, ‘Axomiya Protidin’, ‘Amar Axom’ and ‘Assam Tribune’ — which printed versions of the same 'misleading' advertisement.

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