Congress demands FIR against Modi for 'violation' of model code

New Delhi: Congress demanded registration of FIR against Narendra Modi dubbing as a "flagrant violation" of the model code telecast of his roadshow and his filing of nomination in Varanasi in 117 constituencies going to polls on Thursday.

"We do not want just issuing of notice. We want action. FIR should be registered against all BJP leaders involved including the candidate from Varanasi," party spokesman and Union Minister Anand Sharma said.

Insisting that the telecast of Modi's roadshow and his filing of nomination has "gravely violated" the model code, Sharma alleged that this was done as part of a "well-planned" scheme of BJP to influence the voters in the constituencies going to the polls on Thursday.

He said the law was very clear that there cannot be canvassing on the polling day. Noting that the BJP programme was an elaborate affair and the telecast took place from 8 AM till 3 PM, Sharma wondered as to "why the EC was not alert" and why the media was not told against telecasting it in the constituencies having polling on Thursday.

Claiming that the development was "without precedent", he said what has happened was "unacceptable". Sharma downplayed a question when asked that there was polling in Tripura when Rahul Gandhi had filed his nomination in Amethi which was shown live all over the country. He said that the constituencies involved were 117, the second largest number of seats having polling in a single day in in the nine-phase elections.

"We expect the EC to take appropriate action. It is a very flagrant violation of the Represention of People Act," he said in reply to a question. "We will wait for the response of the EC," Sharma said when asked whether the party will demand a repoll in all the 117 constituencies.

Asked whether Congress planned to approach the President on the issue, he merely said, "Let us take one step at a time." The 117 constituencies cover 11 states and Union Territory of Puducherry in the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections. Fate of 2076 candidates will be decided by 18 crore voters in the polls today in which stakes are high for Congress, BJP and number of other parties like AIADMK, DMK, NCP and Shiv Sena.