The BJP today lodged a complaint with the Election Commission against Gujarat Congress chief Arjun Modhwadia's speech in Surat in which he allegedly used a derogatory word questioning the character of Chief Minister Narendra Modi in the wake of snooping charges.
"It is pertinent to note that Arjun Modhwadia, while giving a political public speech in the inaugural function of election office of Surat west assembly constituency, made a personal attack on the character of Chief Minister Narendra Modi by addressing him as 'lafrabaj'. The phrase is used to describe a person of bad/loose character," BJP legal cell convener Parindu Bhagat wrote to the EC.
Modhwadia's statement comes after the snooping scandal came to fore, in which suspended IAS officer Pradeep Sharma has alleged Modi of having intimate relationship with a young woman, who was being snooped by Gujarat Police.
Delivering an election speech in Surat yesterday, Modhwadia addressed Modi as 'lafrabaj'.
By-elections to the Surat West assembly constituency were necessitated following the untimely death of sitting BJP MLA Kishore Vankawala's death. Polling will be held on December 4, while votes will counted on December 8.
The BJP has fielded Surat City BJP president Purnesh Modi from the constituency while the Congress has given ticket to D N Patel, a leader of Koli Patel community.
"The statements made by Modhwadia are actual contravention of the provisions of the model code of conduct, which specifically mention that any political party or any leader of a political party should refrain himself from making any personal comment against any rival political party or any leader of the said party," Bhagat said in a statement.
"The comments made by Modhwadia are against an individual and hence the provisions of chapter 9 of the Indian Penal Code are hereby attracted," the statement added.
"The Election Commission is required to take a serious note of the statements which have been made by Modhwadia. Also, an FIR is required to be lodged before the concerned police station under the provisions of chapter 9 of the IPC," the statement further read.
