A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his public meetings accused Congress leader Sonia Gandhi of advocating for “separating” Karnataka from India over her use of the term “sovereignty” for Karnataka, the BJP on Monday moved the Election Commission seeking action against Sonia, her party’s derecognition and an FIR against the former Congress chief.
The Congress had tweeted, “CPP Chairperson Smt Sonia Gandhi ji sends a strong message to 6.5 crore Kannadigas: The Congress will not allow anyone to pose a threat to Karnataka’s reputation, ‘sovereignty’ or integrity.”
A BJP delegation headed by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav submitted a memorandum to the poll panel in Delhi over the issue.
“When a country becomes independent, that country is called a sovereign country. India is a sovereign country and the State of Karnataka is a proud part in it. Till today no one raised any question about the integrity of Kannadigas with the sovereignty of the nation. The meaning of what Congress is saying is that the Congress believes that Karnataka is separate from India. This statement is divisive in nature. It is aimed at dividing the citizens and creating a rift between people of different States,” reads the complaint.
Karnataka is not different from India. This is a shocking statement leading to igniting divisive sentiments and to create disharmony in the society, added the BJP’s complaint.
“Karnataka is a very important member State in the Union of India and any call to protect the sovereignty of a member State of the Union of India amounts to a call for secession and is fraught with perilous and pernicious consequences,” the party said.
Speaking to reporters, party leader Tarun Chugh, who was part of the delegation, besides BJP MP Anil Baluni and leader Om Pathak, cited the Representation of the People Act and said the Congress party should be derecognised.
Modi had on Sunday alleged that the disease of the “tukde-tukde gang” (anti-national elements) has reached the Congress’ top level.
The BJP filed a complaint with the Election Commission in Bengaluru as well and requested it to issue direction for registration of an FIR against her over the use of the word “sovereignty”.
Describing the Congress’ tweet quoting Sonia as “shocking and unacceptable”, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje, who filed the complaint, said the former Congress chief had violated provisions of the Model Code of Conduct and requested the EC to take stringent action against her for making “such a statement”.
Karandlaje, convener of the BJP Election Management Committee, also requested the EC to issue directions to register an FIR against her and take exemplary punitive action.
“This is an insult to freedom fighters from Karnataka, who fought for India’s independence. It is an insult to crores of patriotic Kannadigas, who swear by India and cherish their Indianness,” said the Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.