‘Book Modi for Violation of Model Code’: Congress Urges EC

The Congress on Saturday urged the Election Commission (EC) to book Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders for alleged violation of the model code by holding a roadshow in Varanasi without prior permission.

The EC, on its part, has sought a detailed report on the issue from state poll authorities.

BJP Leader Piyush Goyal replied to the allegation saying that it wasn’t a roadshow. He said that the prime minister was there to visit a temple and seeing him, the crowds gathered. He added that they had permission to travel on the road for the temple visit.

In a complaint to the EC, the Congress alleged that Modi took out the roadshow from Banaras Hindu University "without the necessary permission from the competent authority".

“It is requested that action may be taken and FIR registered against all BJP leaders including Narendra Modi who were part of the road show,” said K C Mittal, AICC secretary incharge of legal and human rights cell.

The Election Commission said it is ascertaining the facts and will act further on the basis of the report.

The Opposition party said the entire video recording of the roadshow has been shown by various channels and election authorities must also have recorded the same.

Mittal said the roadshow covers three assembly seats of Varanasi South, Varanasi Cantt and Varanasi North and Modi also visited the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Kaal Bhairo Temple during the event.

On a whirlwind day in his Lok Sabha constituency to rally voters around the BJP in eastern Uttar Pradesh, Modi took out a roadshow, offered prayers at the two historic temples and paid tributes to Madan Mohan Malviya.

His roadshow was held on a day when 49 constituencies went to polls in the sixth phase of UP assembly elections and people in large numbers turned out as Modi's cavalcade moved at a snail's pace.

BJP leaders believe the event, broadcast live on most regional TV news channels, will help their cause when the 40 remaining seats go to polls in the final phase on 8 March.

The seven-phase assembly polls in UP end on 8 March and results will be out on 11 March.