Bar Modi, Shah from poll campaign: Congress to EC

The Congress on Monday piled up pressure on the Election Commission seeking action against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah over alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct, claiming that their pleas had gone unheard for a month.

A delegation of Congress leaders comprising Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Randeep Surjewala, Jairam Ramesh and Pradyot Dev Burman also sought to countermand elections to the Tripura West Lok Sabha seat citing allegations of large-scale booth-capturing, violence and intimidation of voters.

“The prime minister has been violating the Model Code of Conduct without any compunction by dragging the Armed Forces into political discourse and seeking votes in the name of the Balakot air strikes,” senior Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi told reporters here.

He said Congress leaders have given 10 representations seeking action against Modi and Shah for nearly a month but the EC was yet to act on these issues.

“A clear message needs to be sent by barring the prime minister from campaigning for a minimum of 72 hours. Why this reluctance and fear in taking action against Modi and Shah?” Singhvi said.

He said the Congress expected the poll panel to discharge its constitutional duty “without hesitation, immediately, forthwith.”

The Congress delegation also cited Modi's interview to a television channel where he made a reference to the Pulwama attack.

“The object was clear, as has been in all four phases so far, to seek votes by once again invoking the valour of the armed forces,” it said.

Earlier, Congress member Sushmita Dev moved the Supreme Court asking it to direct the EC to decide without any “demur” on the complaints against Modi and Shah on their alleged hate speeches and using armed forces for political propaganda.