In a letter to the chief electoral officer (CEO) of West Bengal, the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee demanded strict action against Pathan and said using banners and posters of India’s cricket World Cup winning team in 2011 was a gross violation of the MCC.
“This is to inform you that Yusuf Pathan has started using banners and posters and photos in different places in the said constituency. It clearly depicts the ICC Cricket World Cup, 2011 winning moments and high profile cricket celebrities including the likes of Bharat Ratna Sachin Tendulkar and others,” the party said in the letter to the CEO.
“The ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 winning moments are a matter of National pride as well as the sentiment that we, every Indian cherish, which we think, should not be utilized during election campaigns for petty material gain. Moreover, we think that this is a gross violation of the Model Code of Conduct which has already been imposed in the country,” it said.
Seeking action against the TMC candidate, the party further wrote, “Under these circumstances, we, from the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee, raise our strong objection and request you to take appropriate and necessary action, instructing your local authorities, from your end at the earliest, so that the public sentiment does not get hurt, by stopping this unethical and unlawful use of the photos of our national heroes during the election campaign.”
Bengal Congress president and party’s Baharampur candidate Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said Yusuf Pathan was depicting the national cricket team’s win “as his own victory by using such photographs”. “The World Cup is the symbol of the country, not anyone’s personal symbol. Sachin Tendulkar is the nation’s pride. He cannot be a symbol for any party or candidate. We have objected to this as everyone has to adhere to MCC during elections,” said Chowdhury.
There was no immediate reaction from Pathan or the Trinamool Congress on this.
The Lok Sabha elections 2024 will be held in Baharampur in the fourth of the seven phases of polling on May 13. The result will be declared on June 4.