New Delhi: Hours after banning Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and BSP supremo Mayawati from campaigning ahead of the second phase of Lok Sabha election, the Election Commission (EC) on Monday continued its crackdown on loose talks during canvassing by political leaders and barred Union Minister Maneka Gandhi from campaigning for 48 hours. The Commission's action came hours after the Supreme Court pulled it up for failing to take action in cases of Model Code violation and questioning if it knew what powers it has to punish errant political leaders.

also read: Former CM Mayawati barred from campaigning for the Model code of conduct violation

Maneka Gandhi, the BJP candidate from Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, had asked a gathering of Muslims to vote for her, saying otherwise else she might not be inclined to be responsive to their requests. Gandhi appeared to have threatened Muslim voters in Uttar Pradesh’s Sultanpur on April 11 during a rally, saying that she will not work for them if they do not cast their ballot for her. “I am winning, but if my victory is without Muslims, I will not feel good, because then there is a bitter feeling,” Gandhi was heard saying. “If Muslims come for some work after that I will think ‘why bother’. Because employment is a negotiation, after all, isn’t that right? We are not Mahatma Gandhi’s children to keep giving without getting anything in return.”

The ban will be effective from 10 AM today. In its order, the Commission strongly condemned her objectionable comments targeting people from a particular religion. Yesterday, the Poll body barred BSP Chief Mayawati for 48 hours and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for 72 hours from campaigning for violating Model Code of Conduct. The ban has come into effect from 6 this morning.

also read: Yogi Adityanath barred from campaigning for next three days; Mayawati for two days