Senior Bihar BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi today told the Election Commission that he has not breached the model code nor committed any "corrupt conduct" by promising to give colour TV sets to Mahdalit families, laptops to meritorious students and incentives to other sections of the society if NDA was voted to power in the state.
The incentives announced by him are part of BJP's vision document for the coming assembly poll, he said in his reply to the notice served by the EC to him on October one after taking cognizance of his address at a rally at Bhabhua on September 28.
During the rally he had promised to give colour TV sets to Mahdalit families, laptops to meritorious students of Class X and XII, besides dhoti-sari to the poor men and women among others.
Sushil Modi said his announcements were consistent with several judgements of Supreme Court and guidelines under the Directive Principles of State Policy and as such did not amount to violation of the model code of conduct.
In the reply filed through his advocate Subodh Kumar Jha, he urged EC to order cancellation of an FIR lodged against him and absolve him of charges of violating the code.
The EC had asked him to reply to its notice by 3 pm today.
He further said it was the duty of a public servant under the provisions of the Constitution and guidelines under the Directive Principles of the State Policy to work for elevation of the quality of life of the people and take measures for improve nutrition and health services.
Being a responsible leader of a political party he had offered these incentives to the people which were part of his party's vision document about which he had prior information.
He also said that having served as Finance minister of Bihar and as member of an empowered group of ministers at the national level he was aware of the financial implications of the proposed incentives and revenue capacity of his state.
