EC holds Pawar guilty of violating model code of conduct

New Delhi, Apr 5 (UNI) The Election Commission today held that Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar has violated the Model Code of Conduct in force for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections by making an announcement providing incentive to farmers for sugar exports.

The Commission had issued notice on Friday to the cabinet secretariat, seeking explanation as to how Mr Pawar made the announcement without first securing the Election Commission's approval.

The Commission has sought an explanation from the Government and asked them to submit the reply by April 7.

The commission officials explained that the announcement of an incentive for sugar export amounted to violation of the Model Code of Conduct as Uttar Pradesh has a large population of sugarcane growers and the announcement has the potential to lure voters to a particular party.

On Monday, Sharad Pawar had announced in Pune that the Centre had approved a relief package of Rs.8.5 billion for sugar exports, the ban on which was lifted in January on expectations of higher production this season.

Mr Pawar had told reporters that sugar production this year was expected to be around 25 million tonnes and the country had carryover stock of four million tonnes from last year.

The annual domestic requirement of sugar is around 19 million tonnes, he said.

UNI