Election commission cracks the whip on errant leaders; bans BJP's Bhopal nominee Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur from campaigning for 72 hours for her remarks on former ATS chief Hemant Karkare and Babri mosque demolition; concludes that PM'speech in Latur not violative of its instructions on invoking armed forces in poll campaigns.

The Election Commission on Wednesday barred BJP candidate from Bhopal Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur from campaigning for 72 hours for her remarks on former ATS chief Hemant Karkare and Babri mosque demolition. The panel strongly condemned her remarks and warned her not to repeat the misconduct in future.

The ban would come into force from 6.00 AM, May 2.

The EC found her statements to be "provocative" and having the potential to "spread hatred".

Bhopal will vote in phase 6 of Lok Sabha elections on May 12. Pragya is pitted against Congress leader Digvijay Singh.

The Election Commission also concluded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech in Latur last month in which he had urged first time voters to dedicate their votes in the name of the Balakot air strike heroes and the soldiers killed in the Pulwama attack, is not violative of its instructions on invoking armed forces in poll campaigns.

The Election Commission also barred the Gujarat state unit chief of Congress from campaigning for 72 hours for using "abusive language".

Regarding the "booth jitao, naukri pao" statement by Madhya Pradesh minister P C Sharma, the Commission decided that "no further action" is required to be taken by it since an FIR against him has been lodged on April 8 by district poll authorities. The Election Commission also issued a notice to Sidhu for his alleged personal attack on Prime Minister Modi at a public rally in Ahmedabad on April 17.