(Image source from: DeccanChronicle)

Election Commission Issues Notice to Congress Leader Navjot Singh Sidhu over 'Objectionable Comments' Against PM Modi:- The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday issued a notice to Congress leader and Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu for making offensive remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a rally in Bhopal on April 29.

Sidhu has been asked to file a reply in 24 hours explaining his remarks referring to PM Modi as "rashtra-drohi" (traitor) and ‘dalal’. He was also earlier barred from campaigning for 72 hours for allegedly warning Muslims in Bihar not to let their votes split and defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party by voting against it unitedly.

"The Commission, after considering the available material and extant provisions of the Model Code of Conduct and instructions in the matter, has decided to provide an opportunity to Shri Navjot Singh Sidhu, the star campaigner, Indian National Congress to submit his explanation, if any, in the matter within 24 hours of receipt of this notice failing which the Commission shall take a decision without further reference to him," the EC said in the notice.

The poll body had received a complaint from the BJP alleging that the Congress leader made disparaging remarks about PM Modi at a rally in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, on April 29.

The notice said, "A complaint dated April 30 was received in the commission from Shri Neeraj, member, Election Commission Committee, Bharatiya Janata Party, alleging that Shri Navjot Singh Sidhu, has made the objectionable statement against Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at a public meeting on April 29 at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh."

The Congress leader had accused Prime Minister Modi of "benefitting businessman Anil Ambani and making money in the Rafale jet deal" and "doing politics on the corpses of martyrs". He had also termed Modi as the "biggest traitor" of the country.

By Sowmya