Human Rights activist Shabnam Hashmi visited the Gandhi Nagar Lok Sabha constituency between April 14 and 18, 2024 after hearing from many of her friends and contacts about the strong arm tactics employed by police, security agencies and political goons in the election campaign for Amit Shah, union Home Minister and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from the seat. She travelled in the constituency and interacted with scores of people collecting information and evidence.

Following this she has written to the Election Commission of India (ECI) highlighting how these strong arm tactics are being enforced in the constituency. She has made the following specific points in the letter. “The State machinery is creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation to ensure that the Home Minister can win by the biggest margin and fulfil his dream of becoming the winning candidate with maximum margins of vote.” She also pointed out that local goons are being used to threaten voters and leaders with active encouragement of political leaders of the ruling party as well as the officers who are supposed to follow the instructions of being impartial.

Hashmi also added that the State Machinery including the top officials are campaigning on behalf of Amit Shah and that he and his team are being allowed to use religious symbols on banners and ask vote in the name of religion.

She has also questioned the ECI’s inaction in the constituency and has sought immediate corrective measures. Read the full text of the Shabnam Hashmi’s letter to the ECI below.