Congress on Monday approached the Election Commission with a third complaint against BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi for his comments in election rallies on Sonia Gandhi’s illness and other controversial comments. In the petition, Congress demanded withdrawal of recognition of BJP for “persistent violation” by BJP and its prime ministerial candidate.
In a complaint to EC, AICC legal cell convener KC Mittal said Modi has “deliberately and intentionally” made these “derogatory and uncivilised remarks” on more than one occasion against Gandhi as also her son and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi. The party has especially cited the remarks made by 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).
Congress also referred to a TV interview of leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj in which she had said 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,” said the party.
Congress had earlier moved the poll panel against Modi’s khooni panja (bloodied hand) remark on the Congress poll symbol. The EC had earlier issued a similar notice to 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 Gandhi and asked him to be more circumspect in his public utterances in future.