This Article is From Apr 03, 2014

Row over Sonia Gandhi's reported comments to Muslim leaders reaches election commission

Row over Sonia Gandhi's reported comments to Muslim leaders reaches election commission

The BJP has accused the Congress of playing "communal politics"; Sonia Gandhi has rejected the charge.

New Delhi: The Election Commission has said it will "take cognizance" if it receives a complaint about Congress president Sonia Gandhi's meeting with a cleric, the Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid, where she reportedly appealed  to Muslim leaders to ensure their votes are not split.

The BJP has taken strong objection to Mrs Gandhi's appeal. At an election rally in Ghaziabad, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi said it had been 24 hours since Mrs Gandhi met the Imam and the Election Commission must take note of it. His party has alleged that Mrs Gandhi has violated the model code of conduct and wants the EC to act suo motu.

Mr Modi said today, "The Congress is sensing defeat. So now, their slogan has shifted from secularism to rabid communalism. Asking for votes on the basis of communalism is against the rules of Election Commission as the polls have been announced. Why is the election commission not taking suo motu action in this regard?" he asked.

The principal opposition party also accused the Congress of playing "communal politics."

Rejecting the BJP's charge yesterday, Mrs Gandhi called it "a joke".  "We are not in the habit or in the game of polarising the elections," she told reporters.

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