“We will seek justice in the Supreme Court,” said Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Bhopal:
The Madhya Pradesh government has decided to go to the Supreme Court against the decision of the Gwalior Court of the High Court to restrict physical political rallies in nine districts in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
Ahead of the upcoming 28-seat midterm elections, a divisional bank of the Superior Court yesterday asked that the magistrates of the districts under its jurisdiction not give permission to any candidate or political party for public meetings without compelling reasons.
In a video message today, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan apologized to the people of Shadora and Bhander from Ashok Nagar, where he was expected to attend two political demonstrations. The rallies had to be canceled following the order of the Superior Court.
“We respect the High Court and its decision. But regarding this decision, we will go to the Supreme Court, because it is like having two laws in one country,” Chouhan told the ANI news agency.
“In some parts of Madhya Pradesh, physical political rallies are allowed. It is not allowed elsewhere. Political rallies are even taking place in Bihar, but it is not allowed in part of Madhya Pradesh. Therefore, we will seek justice from the Supreme Court, “he added.
Yesterday, in ordering the first information reports against Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and former Chief Minister Kamal Nath to be presented, the division bank also called for strict restrictions on political rallies.
Permission for demonstrations can only be granted if the political party or candidate can convince the magistrate that a virtual election campaign is not possible, the court said.
In the event that a physical rally is allowed, it can only be held when the party or candidate deposits sufficient funds with the District Magistrate to double the required amount of masks and disinfectants for participants, the court added.
Twenty-eight seats from Madhya Pradesh will be available for by-elections next month. A portion of these seats was vacated when Jyotiraditya Scindia switched camps from Congress to the BJP with her loyalists in March.
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