Congress complaint against PM Narendra Modi under consideration: Election Commission

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi walking a few metres and then briefly travelling on the footboard of his car flashing his inked finger prompted the Opposition Congress to dub the Election Commission a “puppet of BJP” that “meekly surrenders itself and prostrates before the prime minister and the ruling party”, instead of taking action for “violation of the model code of conduct”.

While AICC sought an FIR against Modi and Congress supporters staged a noisy protest outside the EC office, the Commission said the complaint it received against the prime minister’s “roadshow” “is under consideration”. EC also clarified that there “is no FIR” against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and only a show-cause notice had been sent to him regarding BJP’s earlier complaint about TV channels airing Gandhi’s interview on Wednesday. EC adde
d FIRs had been ordered against those TV channels which telecast Gandhi’s interview.


AICC general secretary in-charge of Gujarat Ashok Gehlot and Congress’ chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said: “Having tried every trick in the book to divert and distract the Gujarat election in view of impending defeat, a desperate prime minister negated all norms of Constitution and code of conduct by holding a roadshow with BJP flags.

Election Commission of India and its entire machinery shamelessly abdicated its constitutional responsibility. Election Commission’s conspiratorial silence and absolute inaction reflects as to how one more independent institution in our polity has become a puppet at the whims and fancy of Bharatiya Janata Party.” Gehlot and Surjewala alleged: “The double standard of Election Commission can be gauged by the fact that while it registers an FIR against news channels for telecasting an interview of Rahul Gandhi, it gives a free licence to BJP and Narendra Modi to violate the law, the Constitution and code of conduct as it meekly surrenders itself and prostrates before the prime minister and the ruling party.”

On Congress’ other allegation that CEC was “avoiding a meeting with the Congress side”, Umesh Sinha, senior deputy election commissioner, told the media: “Congress had sought time after 9 pm on Wednesday. While EC had given time for Congress at 1 pm on Thursday, nobody turned up... Complaint regarding PM’s roadshow has been received, it is under consideration.

The Commission is considering all complaints filed on Thursday.” Amid Congress attack a BJP delegation, including Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, also met the Election Commission. The ruling party attacked Congress for targeting EC. BJP general secretary in-charge of Gujarat Bhupender Yadav said: “I would say it is a case of sour grapes.”