Congress moves EC over Modi's 'khooni panja' barb

The Congress has moved the Election Commission (EC) demanding stern action against BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi over his "khooni panja" barb at a Chhattisgarh rally.

K.C. Mittal, secretary, legal and human rights department of the Congress, said the party late Saturday sent a complaint to the poll panel over Modi's remark made Thursday.

"Hand is our election symbol ... He (Modi) called it 'khooni panja' (bloody hand) at a Chhattisgarh rally. His remarks are against the model code of conduct and are defamatory. We have demanded stern action against Modi and the BJP," Mittal said.

Mittal said Modi also described Congress symbol as "zalim haath" (cruel hand) and the party will give more material to the EC in support of its complaint.

The Congress complaint comes only a few days after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) complained to the poll panel against Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's speeches in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

The BJP said Gandhi violated the model code by accusing it of instigating communal riots. Gandhi also said Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence was trying to reach out to Muslims affected by September's Muzaffarnagar riots.

Following BJP's petition to the poll panel, Gandhi was served a notice to which he replied Friday and said he had not violated the model code of conduct.