Congress today approached the Election Commission seeking stern action against VHP leader Pravin Togadia for his "anti-national and provocative" remarks, and said it was aimed at helping Narendra Modi and BJP in the elections.
In a complaint to the EC, Congress's Legal Department secretary K C Mittal said that Togadia's statement is "anti-national, provocative, inflammatory and an open threat to persons belonging to a particular community".
"The intent and purpose of such a statement is well known when the election process is on -- to seek votes for BJP and Narendra Modi with whom they share the same philosophy and ideology," he said in the letter.
Mittal regretted that such statements are allowed and permitted by BJP to seek votes by spreading hatred amongst different communities and religions.
"Unless the Commission takes stern action against persons making such speeches, fair and proper election cannot be conducted," he said.
Besides, he lamented that even in the case of BJP leader Giriraj Singh, the Commission has not taken action as per law and the FIR stated to have been registered at Devghar ignores various offences having prima facie been committed by the hate speech.
Giriraj had reportedly told an election rally that "those opposing Narendra Modi are looking at Pakistan, and such people will have place in Pakistan and not in India".
