Congress moves EC against Modi’s campaign remarks

Stung by Narendra Modi’s description of Sonia Gandhi as “ill” and other controversial comments, Congress on Monday again moved the Election Commission (EC) against remarks made by the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate during the Chhattisgarh poll campaign.

The Congress has demanded withdrawal of recognition to BJP in view of the alleged “persistent violations” by the party and its leaders which, it said, was an “impediment” in the conduct of free, fair and peaceful elections.

In a complaint to EC, AICC legal cell convenor K.C. Bansal said Mr. Modi has “deliberately and intentionally” made these “derogatory and uncivilised remarks” on more than one occasion against Ms. Gandhi as also her son and party Vice-President Rahul Gandhi.

The party has especially cited the remarks made by Mr. Modi like, “I want to ask Shehzada whether this money has come from your mama’s (maternal uncle) place as also “If you have courage, Madam you are sick, give work to your son (bete ko kam do).

This, it said, was violative of the guidelines issued by the EC which prohibit political parties and leaders from criticising all aspects of private lives of leaders of other parties.

Mr. Modi has been “wilfully flouting” the model code of conduct and making statements in its “utter disregard and defiance, it said.

He also referred to a TV interview of Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj in which she had said Mr. Rahul Gandhi is “confused”.

“It seems to be the strategy of the BJP and its leaders to make personal attacks against Congress leaders…The remarks are unwarranted and unjustified and wholly personalised attack aimed at exposing Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi to ridicule in the eyes of the public.

“Such remarks have no place or justification in legitimate political discourse and transcends all limits of propriety political or otherwise,” the party contended before the EC in the complaint made on Sunday.

Mr. Modi and other BJP leaders were “habitual” of violating the model code and the “persistent violation is an impediment” in the conduct of free, fair and peaceful elections, the Congress told the poll panel.

Congress had earlier moved the poll panel against Mr. Modi’s “khooni panja” (bloodied hand) remark on the Congress poll symbol.

Acting on a Congress complaint, the Election Commission had slapped a notice on Mr. Modi for prima facie violating the model code of conduct.

Mr. Modi while campaigning in Chhattisgarh on November 7 had said, “When Atal Bihari Vajpayee formed Chhattisgarh, whose hands did it first go into…Do you want such a “khooni panja” (bloodied hand) again…Brothers and sisters, don’t commit that mistake again. Even by mistake, don’t ever let Chhattisgarh go into the hands of a ‘Zalim Panja’ (cruel hands).”

The EC had earlier issued a similar notice to Mr. Rahul Gandhi over his remarks of ISI link to Muzaffarnagar riot victim remarks and accusing BJP of spreading hatred among communities. The EC has expressed its displeasure to Mr. Gandhi and asked him to be more circumspect in his public utterances in future.