BJP slams AAP for 'twisting' advertisement's tone, moves EC

The BJP today filed a complaint against AAP with the Election Commission alleging that the party has violated the model code of conduct by trying to give "casteist and religious tone" to a "political statement" made by it in an advertisement.

"We have highlighted to EC about the unfortunate incident of use of caste in the election process (by AAP) which is in violation to the code of conduct," Union Minister Piyush Goyal told reporters after meeting the EC officials here.

"An advertisement by the BJP which alluded to the anarchist attitude, mindset and behaviour of the AAP has sought to be twisted into religious and castiest overtone, which is deplorable and blown out of context. We have appealed to the EC to take action against this kind of deplorable behaviour," he said.

Earlier in the day, Arvind Kejriwal had accused BJP of attacking his community in its advertisement, which targetted the AAP chief for allegedly threatening to disrupt the Republic Day celebrations last year while complaining over not getting an invite this year.

Delhi BJP President Satish Upadhyay alleged that controversy being created over the advertisement was a conspiracy of the AAP. "They are trying to twist a political statement and give a casteist and religious tone to the otherwise smooth electoral process," he said.

Prior to the meeting with EC officials, Goyal, at a press conference, said, "I think its extremely sad that certain political parties are trying to convert a political statement and a matter of fact which was used metaphorically to denote their party's ideology which is of anarchy and obstructionism."

"According to us, the statement was made against AAP's DNA, its political philosophy and ideology. It was used as a metaphor, figure of speech. The statement has been twisted and misused by AAP," he said.

The Aam Aadmi party has also complained to the EC against against the BJP for allegedly attacking his community in an advertisement.