Congress moves poll panel against Modi

The Congress Tuesday moved the Election Commission against Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging poll code violation during a speech in Srinagar and demanded stern action against him.

The Congress also sought action against the Bharatiya Janata Party.

In a letter to the Election Commission, K.C. Mittal, who heads the Congress legal and human rights department, said Modi "demeaned and belittled the defence forces and their authority" with his remarks at his rally in Srinagar Monday.

The party said the campaign for polling in 16 constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir ended Dec 7 and Modi addressed two rallies in the state Dec 8.

"Both the meetings have been widely telecast live and even repeated on most of the TV channels and published all over. His public address was shown at all places including the constituencies where polling was going on, within the same state and outside," the letter said.

The letter accused Modi of making some "objectionable statements" during his speech at the Sher-e-Kashmir stadium in Srinagar and accused him of dragging the army in the political arena.

"He did not even spare the army from being dragged into the political arena by stating that 'Yeh Modi sarkar ka kamaal hai' (This is due to the Modi government)," the letter said.

The Congress said the defence forces were away from politics and have been kept out of any political controversy.

"Their sacrifice, dedication and determination can never be compromised," it said.

The party said the army had taken responsibility for the killing of two youths in Budgam district and admitted that it was a "mistake".

"He (Modi) has used this incident as an electoral tool for political purposes to mischievously take all credit which is against all norms of administrative prudence, ethics and decency.

"Bringing the army into political controversy or in election campaign is highly objectionable and in violation of the model code of conduct," the party said.

"It is, therefore, requested that immediate stern action may be taken against Narendra Modi and the BJP for violation of the model code of conduct," it said.