Vastanvi was sacked from the post of vice-chancellor of the leading Islamic seminary last year allegedly for praising Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking at an election rally organised by the Congress at Mandvi in Surat district on October 22, he had reportedly said that it was a crime to praise a 'zalim' (tyrant) and that he never praised Modi.
Vastanvi had also reportedly appealed to minority community members to vote for the Congress. The BJP had termed the speech as 'provocative' and had lodged a complaint with the EC, saying it violated Model Code of Conduct which is in force for December Assembly poll.
The EC, in a letter to BJP Vice-President Purshottam Rupala on Sunday, communicated that it was not necessary to take action against Vastanvi as they didn't feel any objectionable statement or appeal made by him in the public rally, after investigations.
"The EC did not consider it appropriate to take action on the basis of press reports and therefore obtained the CD of the entire proceeding of the meeting.
"After watching the CD, the commission did not consider it necessary to take action against Vastanvi because it did not feel any objectionable statement or appeal having being made by him, which could be taken up as a violation of the MCC or any provision of the election laws," the letter written by EC Secretary Harbans Singh to Rupala stated.
Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath, in reply to a question on Vastanvi, on Monday said, "We had examined the CD of the entire programme, and took action against the organiser and two speakers. However, in Vastanvi's case we did not find any violation of Model Code of Conduct."
