Congress asks EC not to let Modi use BHU campus on nomination day

New Delhi: The Congress has asked the Election Commission not to allow BJP's prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi to use the premises of Benares Hindu University (BHU) and the names of Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth and BHU on the day of filing of his nomination.

A complaint sent to the EC by KC Mittal, Secretary of Legal and Human Rights department of the AICC says, "According to information given to us, a public announcement has been made at Varanasi that Shri Narendra Modi, BJP candidate from 77-Varanasi Parliamentary constituency is going to file his nomination papers on 24th April, 2014. The schedule of his programme is that he will reach Varanasi by helicopter on 24th April, 2014, which will lend in the premises of "Kashi Hindu Vishwa Vidyalaya" a Government University. He would then proceed to the main gate to garland the statute of Shri Madan Mohan Malviya. After garlanding, he would board the helicopter and fly to "Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth" - a State Government university. His helicopter will then lend in the princets of "Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth" where from he would start his roadshow from Vidya Peeth Parishar to the office of Returning Officer.

"It is pertinent to mention here that Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth and Kashi Hindu Vishwa Vidyalaya are Central and State universities, which cannot be allowed to be used for political purposes by the leaders of the political parties or any candidates, as such Shri Modi cannot use the premises of both universities for lending or use their names or premises in any manner whatever, for filing his nomination."

The letter also tries to draw the attention of the ECI that in 2001 Atal Behari Vajpayee, then Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi, the Congress President were not permitted to use Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth premises. It says, "The Executive Council of these universities do not allow use of university premises or the ground for any such purpose nor till date it has so permitted to any political parties or the leaders. It is also the time when examinations are going on in the universities. As far as the landing of helicopter is concerned, there is enough place available at Varanasi other then two universities. It seems that they have chosen this campus of these two universities for their electoral purposes. It is submitted that use of compound, ground or in any other manner any portion of the universities cannot be allowed to Narendra Modi or the BJP."