"Casts Aspersions On Judiciary, Shows Police In Bad Taste": ECI Asks AAP To Modify Election Song 'Jail Ke Jawab Me Vote'

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has been ordered by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to modify its campaign song that makes repeated reference to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's arrest.

The song has the phrase 'jail ke jawaab me hum vote denge' (vote as a response to jail) where an aggressive mob is seen holding the photo of Kejriwal behind bars.

The ECI said that it casts aspersions on the judiciary and this phrase comes several times in the advertisement which contravenes the provisions of ECI Guidelines.

The ECI also found that it violated Rule 6(1(g)) of the Programme and Advertising Codes prescribed under the Cable Television Network Rules 1994.

The ECI found AAP's song showing police in bad taste for a clip where former Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia is being seen escorted by police with the same phrase.

Another phrase claiming that dissenting voices were put in jail, while others were given money, was found to be based on unverified facts and casting aspersions on the judiciary.

The ECI passed this order on the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) complaint. AAP leader Atishi claimed that this happened for the first time in the history of India that the ECI banned the election song of a political party.

Kejriwal was arrested on 21 March by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the Delhi liquor policy case. Sisodia was arrested last year in the same case. Both are in judicial custody now.