PIL against use of INDIA acronym by Opposition filed by person linked to BJP: Congress to Delhi High Court

The Congress party has told the Delhi High Court that the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition challenging the use of INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) acronym by the opposition parties, is politically motivated and filed by a person linked to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).The response has been filed before the Court a day before it is scheduled to hear the PIL filed by one Girish Bhardawaj who has argued that the use of INDIA acronym by the Opposition was a violation of The Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act.In one of the principal objections against the PIL, the Congress has said that similar PILs have been dismissed earlier by the Supreme Court and the Calcutta High Court..The party has further accused the petitioner of suppressing the fact that he was closely associated with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. It has cited his social media profile to buttress the argument.“It is relevant to mention that Vishwa Hindu Parishad is Indian Right Wing Organisation which is a part of the “Sangh Parivar” and affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, whose political arm is the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP),” the Congress party response reads.Therefore, the Congress has argued that the petition was not only politically motivated but aimed at “to advance the political stratagems of the petitioner”..Bhardawaj has failed to establish the basis of the petition that the name of the alliance had caused confusion among the voters, the Congress response said while seeking imposition of exemplary costs on the petitioner. “The petitioner has failed to establish the very basis of the petition, that the name of the alliance has caused confusion amongst voters and misled them into voting for the alliance solely on the basis of the acronym and ‘as a matter of national duty’. The petitioner has also failed to provide any evidence with respect to use of ‘I.N.D.I.A’ as an acronym for an alliance as “diminishing goodwill” of the Nation in global politics,” the reply states.It has further denied that use of INDIA acronym was a violation of the law and said no judicial precedent or provision had been highlighted that bars political parties from using such a name..Further, the Congress has submitted that the petitioner’s entire grievance was premised on the “non-observance and not taking of any action to the representation given by the petitioner to the Election Commission of India”.With the filing of the ECI’s response, the representation stands acted upon, the party has said further, while terming the PIL an attempt to drag the court in a matter of politics and elections.“The prayers of the petitioner should not be allowed and the said vexatious Petition should be immediately dismissed with exemplary costs,” it has prayed..Bhardawaj moved the Court claiming that opposition parties are using the name of INDIA for their selfish act and it may "adversely affect the peaceful, transparent and fair casting of votes during the upcoming general elections of 2024".The High Court had in August 2023 issued notices to the 26 opposition parties and the Election Commission of India (ECI). ECI in its response told the Court that it cannot regulate political alliances.Some of the parties have orally told the Court that the PIL is not maintainable. The Court last week had said the opposition alliance should file its response within a week so that the matter could be disposed of on April 10.