BJP moves poll panel over Rahul's "hand of God" remark
The BJP on Tuesday demanded that the Election Commission freeze the election symbol of the Congress, alleging that its Vice President Rahul Gandhi violated the model code of conduct by linking his party symbol "hand" with various religious figures. "This is a clear-cut case of corrupt practice. There should be action against both Congress and its leader," the BJP said.
BJP today demanded that the Election Commission freeze the election symbol of Congress, alleging that its vice-president Rahul Gandhi violated the model code of conduct by linking his party symbol "hand" with various religious figures.A BJP delegation comprising union ministers Prakash Javadekar and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and party office-bearers Bhupender Yadav, Anil Jain and Sidharth Nath Singh lodged a complaint with the Election Commission against Gandhi and sought freezing of the symbol.Also read | Phata kurta, nikla Rahul Gandhi: What the Congress leader said on Modi's kurta "The grand old party Congress' grand new leader has tried to give communal colour to the elections by his statement in which he co-related the Congress' 'hand' with various religious figures such as Lord Shiv, Guru Nanak, Buddha and Islam. This is a clear cut case of corrupt practice. There should be action against both Congress and its leader", Naqvi told reporters after filing a complaint with the Election Commission.WHAT BJP'S COMPLAINT SAYSAt the Congress' 'Jan Vedna Sammelan' earlier this month, Gandhi had made comments co-relating his party's symbol 'hand' with religious gods, violating the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, model code of conduct and the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court, BJP wrote in its complaint.Alleging that Gandhi's remarks were in violation of the model code of conduct, Javadekar said, "We have requested the Election Commission that the Congress party's election symbol should be frozen."Also read |  RSS didn't hoist national flag at their headquarters for 52 years: Rahul Gandhi   Javadekar said that as soon as the schedule for Assembly elections in five states was declared, the Congress had started raising communal tension and seeking votes on the basis of religion.Echoing Javadekar's view, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, "The grand old party has a brand new communal agenda. The Election Commission has said they will take up the matter. We want an investigation into this and the party symbol should be sealed". BJP national secretary Singh said that contents of Gandhi's speech were not only offensive, but also an attempt to communalise the polity in poll-bound states.