The Congress on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of vitiating the atmosphere in Uttar Pradesh to polarise the society and asked the Election Commission to take appropriate action against him.
Former Union Minister and senior Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma said that Modi has been making objectionable remarks at election rallies and his statement on Sunday that if there was a ‘kabaristaan’ (graveyard), there should be a ‘shamshaan’ (cremation ground) too was aimed at creating polarisation.
“Our Constitution does not allow anyone to divide the nation, be it on caste or religion basis. The Prime Minister is not above the Constitution or the law. We expect the Election Commission to take appropriate action on this,” Sharma said.
He said that the Election Commission has given strict directions not to evoke passion and divide the society on the basis of religion or caste, and it is expected of the EC that it issues a notice to the Prime Minister and the BJP.
The Congress leader said the Prime Minister was making such statements as his party was staring at an imminent defeat in the State. “In doing do, he is disrespecting the Constitution and violating the oath of his office,"” he said.
"They wear masks and in a hurry, this mask seems to have fallen. Prime Minister Modi, true to his form, is vitiating the atmosphere during another election time. He has tried to stir communal tension and to polarise the society. The Prime Minister's speech where he spoke of graveyards and crematoriums shows his mindset,” he said.
Asked if the Congress would take it up with the poll body, Sharma said, “The Election Commission should do its own work. It has a Constitutional mandate... The Election Commission had said earlier that it would not allow such kind of campaign, which is divisive.”