Modi supporters come out with poster on wife controversy

With Congress targeting Narendra Modi on the issue of his marital status, BJP supporters today released a poster that may raise eyebrows as its terms him "desh premi" (patriot) while calling leaders of Congress and Samajwadi Party as "patni premi" (having love for wives).

The poster was released by Ashok Chaurasia, who is associated with Modi election campaigning in the city and convener of BJP Sahitya Prakashan Prakosth (literature wing).

"It is a fight between a person who loves his nation and left home and family to serve the country, against those who love their wives and not the nation," Chaurasia said after releasing the poster at Bharat Mata Mandir campus in Sigra area here.

The poster has photographs of Jawaharlal Nehru with Lord Mountbatten's wife Edwina and Rahul Gandhi being hugged by an enthusiastic worker.

Besides them, the poster has pictures of Digvijay Singh, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mohd Azam Khan. The poster also shows Congress leader Shashi Tharoor with his wife Sunanda Pushkar.

BJP's Loksabha election incharge for Modi, Ashok Dhavan, when queried on the matter told PTI that Ashok Chaurasia was a party worker, but he was not aware of the poster released by him and others. "I will inquire into the matter", he added.

The Congress today approached the Election Commission over the issue of the marital status of Modi by seeking action by the poll body against the BJP's prime ministerial candidate for allegedly "hiding" facts in election affidavits filed by him in the past.

Modi has for the first time declared himself as a married man by revealing his wife's name as Jashodaben in an affidavit filed before the Election Commission along with his nomination papers for Vadodara Lok Sabha seat. In the previous elections, he left the column blank.

It came on a day when Rahul Gandhi raked up the issue of Modi's marriage to hit out at BJP, saying while the party made claims of ensuring safety of women, it took several elections for its PM candidate to mention the name of his wife in the poll affidavit.

"Don't know how many elections he has contested till now, but he has revealed for the first time that he is married. In Delhi, he talks about honour of women, but his own wife's name doesn't reach the affidavit," Gandhi said addressing a poll rally in Jammu and Kashmir.

The BJP has defended Modi saying he has never lied on the matter and there was "no aggrieved party". Modi is also contesting from Varanasi.