Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s bag was checked by Election Commission (EC) officials in Maharashtra’s Hingoli district on Friday. This is the latest in a series of checks on the luggage of high-profile political leaders visiting the state ahead of elections. The allegation is that only the opposition is being targeted. In a post on Twitter, Shah shared a video in which election officials arriving at Hingoli assembly seat to address an election rally were checking his luggage in the helicopter.
Responding to the investigation, Shah said, “The Election Commission is checking the bags of the leaders campaigning for the assembly elections. Earlier, the bags and helicopter of Uddhav Thackeray and Devendra Fadnavis were also checked by the Election Commission officials. ” He further said, “BJP believes in fair elections and healthy election system and follows all the rules made by the Honorable Election Commission.” “We all must contribute to a healthy electoral system and perform our duties in keeping India the strongest democracy in the world,” the Home Minister said.
This latest development comes amid the controversy over checking of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray’s bag in Yavatmal on November 11. At that time he had a heated argument with the officials. Later his bag was checked again in Latur. In more than a week, a similar investigation was conducted on Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, Nitin Gadkari and other leaders.
Regarding the checking of bags and helicopters, the Election Commission has said that it has followed the SOP to give a level playing field to everyone. The Election Commission on Tuesday clarified that planes and choppers of political leaders, including BJP leaders, are regularly checked by election authorities as per the established professional procedures.
Today, during the election campaign in Hingoli Assembly of Maharashtra, my helicopter was checked by the Election Commission officials.
BJP believes in fair elections and healthy election system and follows all the rules made by the Honorable Election Commission.
A healthy choice… pic.twitter.com/70gjuH2ZfT
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 15, 2024
