The social media platform 'X' was also ordered by NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo on Monday to immediately delete an objectionable video depicting the alleged involvement of children in AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal and Delhi Chief Minister Atishi political campaigning.
NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo drew the attention of Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar to the issue and sought the advice to consider issuing guidelines to the political parties not to involve children in political activities.
In separate letters written to the CEC and Vinay Prakash, Resident Grievances Officer, X, Kanoongo said that the Commission is deeply concerned with the participation of children in political campaigning activities.
The Commission, taking suo motu cognizance of the matter under Section 12(a) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, stated that it has discovered a post on X wherein CM Atishi and Kejriwal, have shared content/video showing children directly involved in political campaigning activities for the Aam Aadmi Party.
"This practice is violative of guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India on February 5, 2024 as also violating Section 75 of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, along with other legal provisions," wrote Kanoongo.
While accepting the Commission's statement that Model Code of Conduct for the imminent assembly elections in Delhi yet comes into force, it held that the development warranted the present intervention.
The NHRC further asked X to take immediate redemptive measures and file a report. "The Commission is of the firm view that the aforementioned post(s)/re-post(s) should be immediately removed/taken down and an Action Taken Report (ATR) detailing the steps undertaken to address this issue must be submitted to the Commission within seven days," Kanoongo wrote to the X official.
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