The Congress on Thursday filed a complaint against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleging violation of Model Code of Conduct. The party has demanded stern action against the Prime Minister and has quoted their case as an appropriate one for cancelling or withdrawing the symbol of the BJP.
In a complaint filed with the Election Commission, Congress leader KC Mittal has quoted the example of the Prime Minister’s video conferencing address at Ramayana Darshnam Exhibition on the occasion of Swami Vivekananda’s birthday. Mittal says that by invoking and making statements regarding “Bhagwan Shri Ram”, “Ayodhya”, “Ram Rajya”, “Hanumanji” & Bharat repeatedly, the PM has violated the code of conduct. Bhagwan Shri Ram, “Ayodhya”, “Ram Rajya”, “Hanumanji” & Bharat repeatedly the PM has violated the code of conduct.
Congress claimed that the Prime Minister wanted to “invoke religion to further the election prospects of BJP” in the poll-bound States, especially Uttar Pradesh. It said “repeated” violations of the model code makes it a fit case for the poll watchdog to withdraw the election symbol of BJP. The Congress termed the modus operandi of the Prime Minister as a way to arose religious feelings and sentiments of the voters in the name of religion, especially in the poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, since the issue originated from Ayodhya.
The Congress, along with the letter, has also submitted the complete text of the PM’s speech, along with photographs and a thumbnail image, describing them as tools used for electoral gain by arousing religious sentiments.
Earlier on 13 January, the BJP had filed a complaint with the poll panel against Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi for hurting religious sentiments, by co-relating the symbol of Congress with religious gods such as Shiv, Guru Nanak, Buddha, Islam and Mahavir.