This Article is From Nov 20, 2013

After Narendra Modi, now Vasundhara Raje says 'khooni panja' to target Congress

After Narendra Modi, now Vasundhara Raje says 'khooni panja' to target Congress

Vasundhara Raje, BJP's Chief Ministerial candidate for Rajasthan

Barmer, Rajasthan: After Narendra Modi received an Election Commission notice for using the term 'khooni panja' or bloody hand to target the Congress, another BJP leader, Vasundhara Raje has used the same words while campaigning in Rajasthan, where she is running for chief minister.

At an election meeting in Barmer on Tuesday, Vasundhara Raje waved at the gathering, with lotus flowers painted on her hands, and said, "Can you see my palms? Can you see the lotus? This hand, when it's with the Congress, is a khooni panja (bloody hand). But when you put lotuses on it, hundreds of people reach out to hold these hands."

The lotus is the election symbol of the BJP, while the Congress' symbol is the hand.

The Congress says it will complain to the Election Commission against Ms Raje, who appeared unapologetic about her comments.

"The Congress' hand has never wiped the tears of the poor. It is a hand that has stolen from their pockets," she told reporters in Jaipur. The 60-year-old politician has been crisscrossing the state in a chopper to cover maximum ground ahead of the December 1 election in the state.

Last week, the Election Commission had issued notice to Mr Modi, the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate, on his remarks at a rally in Chhattisgarh.

Mr Modi had said, "Yadi aap chahte hain ki Chhattisgarh ke upar kisi khooni panje ka saya na pade to aap sabhi kamal mein button dabana aur. Chhattisgarh ko khooni panje se bachana (If you want to save Chhattisgarh from the bloody hand, vote for the lotus)."

Sources have told NDTV that poll panel members believe Mr Modi's choice of the words 'khooni panja' left little room for doubt that it was a reference to the Congress' poll symbol, the hand.

If Mr Modi faces the Election Commission's disapproval, so should Vasundhara Raje, say Congress leaders in Rajasthan.
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