Congress urges Election Commission to withdraw BJP's election symbol

NEW DELHI: Congress today accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP of "repeatedly" violating the poll code and demanded that the Election Commission "withdraw" the ruling party's election symbol.

In a letter to the poll panel, Congress claimed that Modi invoked Hindu gods, used words such as "Ayodhya" and "Ram rajya", and compared the policies of his government with that of Lord Ram while addressing Ramayana Darshan exhibition in Kanyakumari on January 12 through video conferencing.

It alleged that by doing so, he has violated the provisions of the model code which came into force on January 4 following the announcement of assembly polls in UP, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa.

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.