National Conference complaints to EC against PM Modi for 'defamatory' speeches

Srinagar: National Conference on Sunday filed a complaint with the Election Commission (EC) against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making "wild, unsubstantiated and defamatory accusations" against the party leadership during his recent speeches in election rallies in the state.

In a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, National Conference spokesman Junaid Azim Mattu has quoted examples of the alleged defamatory nature made by the Prime Minister in his rallies in Jammu.

Mattu said this not only violated the Model Code of Conduct but was also in contravention to all laws that are in place to protect a citizen's rights.

"I, on behalf of J&K National Conference, would like to draw your attention to successive violations of the Model Code of Conduct by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent speeches in Jammu and Kashmir," the letter said.

It said the Prime Minister has repeatedly, more recently in his speeches in Udhampur and Poonch, named the leadership of National Conference "while raising wild, unsubstantiated allegations against them. This, while a clear act of defamation, is also a violation of the Model Code of Conduct."

"We request you to take immediate cognisance of these violations and take the necessary action mandated under the relevant statutes of the law and treat this as our formal complaint," the letter said.

In a veiled dig at coalition governments of NC-Congress and PDP-Congress, the Prime Minister had said in Udhampur, "Those who have been rejected by the people of Jammu and Kashmir, take benefit and change coalition partners to remain in power and loot as much as they want by turns."

The NC on Saturday had filed a complaint against BJP and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh for violating the poll code by using the Srinagar airport premises to telephonically address a public meeting in Pahalgam in south Kashmir.

Singh, who was scheduled to address a few rallies in north and south Kashmir, could not reach the venues because of bad weather and addressed the people via telephone.