BJP Candidate Justice Gangopadhyay Barred from Campaigning for 24 Hours by ECI for His Remarks against Mamata Banerjee
Moneylife Digital Team 21 May 2024
The election commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday imposed a 24-hour campaigning ban on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former judge of Calcutta High Court (HC) Abhijit Gangopadhyay for his remarks against Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal and leader of Trinamool Congress (TMC).
 
In its order, the ECI barred justice Gangopadhyay from campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections for 24 hours starting from 5pm on 21st May.
 
In an order signed by ECI secretary Rakesh Kumar, stated that the retired HC judge's remarks brought disrepute to the state which has a culture of respecting women. "(The) Commission finds... Mr Gangopadhyas's statement a direct affront to the 'erosion of status of women in India', such a statement that is outrightly condemnable when using respect of any woman, not to speak of a senior political leader and holder of a constitutional position, who he has targetted... the Commission painfully notes the fact that such abominable words have come from someone of Mr Gangopadhyay's educational and professional background and hence does not remotely deserve any benefit of doubt."
 
"...by Mr Gangopadhyay's words, he has brought damage and disrepute to the state of West Bengal that has a distinguished tradition of respect for women... the Commission strongly censures Mr Gangopadhyay for the misconduct and debars him from campaigning for 24 hours... The Commission also strictly warns Mr Gangopahdyay to remain careful in his public utterances during the currency of model code of conduct," the ECI says.
 
During a public meeting on 15 May 2024 at Haldia, the former judge made objectionable comments on Mamata Banerjee. 
 
Justice Gangopadhyay is reported to have said the following in Bengali: 
"Mamata Banerjee, how much are you being sold for? Your rate is 10 lakh, why? Because you're getting your make up done by Keya Seth? Mamata Banerjee, is she even a woman? I keep wondering sometimes."
 
Next day, TMC filed a complaint before ECI against justice Gangopadhyay. 
 
After going through the reply sent by the former judge on its show-cause notice (SCN), ECI says it "is convinced that he (Mr Gangopadhyay) has made a low-level personal attack and thus violated the model code of conduct."
 
Comments
meerajaddval
12 months ago
Isn't it shameful that such a person was a Judge of the Calcutta High Court till recently? His orders must be suo moto reviewed by the SC and declared perverse, if respect for judiciary is to be restored.
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