Congress lodges model code violation complaint against BJP

The Congress has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission alleging that the BJP candidate for West Tripura constituency, Pratima Bhowmik has violated the model code of conduct by making statements about the Indian Army and Balakot airstrike.

Bhowmik is also the general secretary of the Tripura unit of BJP.

Vice-President of Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee, Tapas Dey in a letter to Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sriram Taranikanti on Wednesday wrote that Bhowmik said Indian Armys "brave steps" and Balakot airstrike in her speech at Kalinagar village of West Tripura district on March 31 last.

Dey alleged that Bhowmik said the credit for the Balakot airstrike should go to Prime Minister Narendra Modi which is violation of mode code of conduct.

"She has violated the model code of conduct and the instructions of the Election Commission of India. We are concerned that these statements would turn out to be counter-productive for the spirit and essence of democracy and are also gross violation of the model code of conduct imposed by Election Commission of India," the letter said.

The CEO office said it has received the Congress complaint against Bhowmik and was looking into it.

Reacting to the Congress complaint, the BJP Tripura unit spokesperson Nabendu Bhattacharya said, if anybody says the 'brave steps' of the Indian Army at Balakot in Pakistan, it did not mean violation of code of conduct.

"We should praise Indian Army for their bravery and those who cant tolerate these should be labelled as traitors and anti-nationals. People will give them befitting reply in the Lok Sabha elections," he said.