Congress moves EC against Kejriwal's bribe remarks

The party said that Kejriwal is instigating people to take bribes for voting and has maligned the electoral process

Irked by his 'bribe remarks' made at a poll rally yesterday, Congress has moved the Election Commission against AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal demanding action against him.

In a complaint to Chief Election Commissioner H S Brahma and Election Commissioner S N A Zaidi, Congress Secretary and incharge of legal cell department K C Mittal said by making such a statement, Kejriwal is instigating people to take bribes for voting and has maligned the electoral process.

"By making such a statement he has deliberately and intentionally instigated the public to take bribe for voting and has thereby abated the offence of bribery during the electoral process."

"The language used is also defamatory and cause serious aspersions on the fair conduct of elections by the authorities and public at large. This statement made by him is also in clear violation on Model Code of Conduct. It is totally derogatory and scandalising," Mittal said in his complaint.

He said by making such statements, apart from instigating people to indulge in bribe and corruption, he has 'maligned' the democratic institution and the process.

"This statement cannot simply be described as irresponsible but has to be viewed with utmost seriousness and gravity to even take criminal action against him for the purity of electoral process. It is therefore, requested to take all possible actions against him," the AICC Secretary has demanded from EC.

Addressing a poll rally at Uttam Nagar yesterday, Kejriwal had said, "It's election time. When people both from BJP and Congress come offering money, don't refuse, accept... some have looted money from 2G, some have looted money from coal scam...Take money from both the parties but vote for AAP. We will fool them this time. They have been deceiving us for the last 65 years. Now it's our turn."

BJP also lashed out at him yesterday for his remarks with its New Delhi MP Meenakshi Lekhi saying that Kejriwal was questioning the authority of the Election Commission (EC) with his remarks.