NCP Vs NCP: Supreme Court Asks Ajit Pawar’s Group to Publish Disclaimers in Newspapers on ‘Clock’ Symbol Within 36 Hours
New Delhi, November 6: The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to publish within 36 hours disclaimers in newspapers, including Marathi dailies, stating that the use of the ‘clock’ symbol by the NCP remains a sub-judice matter. A bench of Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta and Ujjal Bhuyan was assured by senior advocate Balbir Singh, representing Ajit Pawar, that disclaimer will be published within 36 hours.
“Why are you taking time for publishing disclaimer in newspapers? We are not giving you days, we are asking in how many hours you can do this?” asked the bench. Initially, Singh said that NCP was complying with all conditions imposed by the Supreme Court for the use of ‘clock’ symbol and that the party has contacted newspapers to publish a fresh undertaking and within two-three days disclaimer can be published. Sharad Pawar To Retire From Politics? Here Is What NCP Supremo Said.
The bench, however, said, “Within 24 hours, maximum 36 hours, you publish disclaimer in newspapers and make sure whatever you are relying upon, is there,” Justice Kant told Singh. Singh added that the party has contacted newspapers to publish a fresh undertaking. Counsel appearing for Sharad Pawar, submitted that Ajit Pawar side was destroying evidence by deleting the videos which were uploaded on social media without the disclaimers.
“The photographs taken on November 1 from the Baramati constituency show that the posters of Ajit Pawar side have no disclaimers,” the apex court was told. “Senior Pawar’s faction is being forced to come to the court again and again due to the repeated violations of Ajit Pawar,” counsel added. A fresh application was filed by Sharad Pawar group alleging violation of the conditions by the Ajit Pawar faction.
On March 19, the top court allowed the Ajit Pawar faction to use the ‘clock’ symbol, with certain conditions, including that his party will issue public declaration that the use of the ‘clock’ symbol by it for Lok Sabha and the Maharashtra Assembly Elections is sub-judice, and subject to the outcome of the challenge made by the Sharad Pawar group to the decision of the ECI. It had also asked Ajit Pawar faction to not use the name and images of Sharad Pawar in its campaign materials. Maharashtra: NCP Leader Nana Kate Withdraws as Independent from Polls.
Following a rift between the Sharad Pawar and the Ajit Pawar factions of the NCP, the Election Commission of India recognised the Ajit Pawar’s party as the real NCP based on its legislative majority and allotted the ‘clock’ symbol to it. The top court had asked Sharad Pawar faction to use ‘Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar’ name for upcoming elections and “man blowing turha” symbol. Earlier, the apex court had directed that the Election Commission’s order of February 7, allotting ‘Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar’ as the party name for the Sharad Pawar faction will continue till further orders.
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