Commenting on the FIRs lodged against him for violating the Model Code of Conduct, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi said he would never forget the day when an FIR was lodged against him for showing a 'Lotus' to the people.
"An FIR has been registered against me because I showed 'lotus' to people. In my entire life, not even a single FIR has been registered against me, not even for wrong-side scooter driving, and not even for wrong parking. When I landed here, I came to know that an FIR has been registered against me. I will never forget this day (April 30)," said Modi while addressing a rally in Tirumala late on Wednesday.
He blamed the Congress party for registration of a case against him for alleged violation of election rules, and alleged that the Congress was desperate because defeat was staring in its face.
"Congress party has become desperate, defeat is staring in their face and the federal government has shaken up. Their worry is how come a tea-seller is challenging the might of the federal government," he said in southern town of Tirumala while campaigning for the parliament polls.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has confirmed that a case was registered against Modi for flashing the party's election symbol 'lotus' outside a polling booth in Gujarat.
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The poll body had found Modi to be in violation of the provisions of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951.
The EC stated that it was evident from Modi's address that he intended to influence and affect the result of elections in the constituencies going to polls today, not only in Ahmedabad but also in all other constituencies in the State of Gujarat and elsewhere in the country.
"The Commission is of the view that by holding that meeting and also by addressing the same today when the polling is going on in the entire State of Gujarat and in different parts of the country, Narendra Modi has violated the provisions of Sections 126 (1) (a) and 126 (l) (b) of R.P. Act 1951. Therefore, the Commission directs under Article 324 of the Constitution and all other legal provisions enabling it in this behalf that complaints/ FIR as the case may be, should be filed against Sh. Narendra Modi and all others who were involved in the convening and holding of the said meeting, under the provisions of Sections 126 (l) (a) and 126 (1) (b)." said the EC in its notice.
The poll body had reportedly asked the Director-General-of-Police (DGP) of Gujarat and state chief secretary to initiate action against Modi for displaying the Lotus.
The EC had acted after the Congress lodged a complaint with it. The poll body had also sought a report from the district Collector of Ahmedabad on Narendra Modi's press conference earlier today.
