The Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer has sought reports and CD about the alleged hate speech of Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's aide Amit Shah, who in Shamli created controversy by his revenge remarks earlier this week.
While the BJP defended its UP in-charge in the face of calls for strict action from rival parties, the Congress moved the Election Commission, demanding Amit Shah be arrested for violating the Representation of Peoples Act with his provocative hate speech.
K C Mittal, the head of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) legal cell on Saturday asked the EC to take stern action against the BJP and leaders who are vitiating the atmosphere ahead of the polls.
"They are spreading hatred and dividing people in the name of castes and religions. We have demanded for registration of FIR and local police should arrest him. There should be proceedings against them. It's really horrible to make such a statement in a charged atmosphere of Muzaffarnagar where communal violence has taken place recently and innocent people were brutally killed," Mittal said.
On Friday Amit Shah had met leaders of three communities - Gurjjars, Rajputs and Dalits - at a farmhouse in the town's Gandhi Colony. He apparently spoke of revenge.
"A man can live without food or sleep. He can live when he's thirsty and hungry. But when he's insulted, he can't live. We must seek revenge for the insult heaped on us," he said.
He did the same thing a day before on Thursday while he met leaders of the Jat community at Raajhar village, 40 km from Muzzaffarnagar and delivered a similar vengeful remark.
"This election is about voting out the government that protects and gives compensation to those who killed Jats," Shah said. "It is about revenge and protecting honour." he said.