Cong to ECI: Bar Amit Shah from entering Karnataka

The Congress on Friday accused BJP chief Amit Shah of vitiating the atmosphere in the state during his visit to Karnataka, by making communal statements.

Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee Working president Dinesh Gundu Rao said the Election Commission of India (ECI) should bar Shah from entering Karnataka.

He said Shah and other BJP leaders had violated the model code of conduct by paying a compensation of Rs five lakh to the family of BJP activist Raju, who was hacked to death in Mysuru in 2016. A complaint was filed with the Office of the Chief Electoral Office in this regard in the evening.

Randeep Singh Surjewala, head, AICC Communication Department, said the banking system in the state had collapsed and held the NDA government directly responsible for the same.

He said the prime minister and the Union Finance Minister had remained mute spectators even as "fraudsters" cheated banks and got away from the country.