Check Congress complaint on internet posts: EC to Gujarat

A complaint to the Election Commission by the Congress alleging posting of "highly objectionable material" on the social media has been referred to a Gujarat poll official for appropriate action under the Indian Penal Code and Information Technology Act, party sources said.

K.C. Mittal, secretary in the legal and human rights department of the Congress, complained to the poll panel last week about "highly objectionable material spreading communal hatred in India" on social media.

Citing instances, Mittal said these seemed to have been posted by the Bharatiya Janata Party and its workers and supporters.

"These posts are available on the internet. The nature of these posts seems to indicate that they are members/workers of the BJP. Such contents are not only in violation of the model code of conduct but attract electoral and penal offences as well," Mittal said in his letter to the commission dated March 29.

Mittal said an incident of desecration of the national flag in Pakistan was shown as having happened in Assam.

"This material was posted by one of the office bearers of the BJP, Asmakhan Pathan, district president of the BJP minority cell Kheda, whose photograph with Narendra Modi is also on the internet," he said.

Mittal also complained about three other posts by different individuals, including a photograph in a magazine which reportedly showed a terror camp in Kerala.

He requested the commission to immediately investigate the matter and take action according to law.

The poll panel, in its communication Tuesday to the Gujarat chief electoral officer, said "action, as deemed appropriate" may be taken on the complaint by the election officer of Kheda district.