Congress complains to EC on BJP using religion for electoral gains

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Congress says BJP office bearers, candidates, workers and supporters using religion and religious places, in violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

New Delhi: The Congress has complained to the Election Commission of India (ECI) against the BJP office bearers, candidates, workers and supporters using religion and religious places, in violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

Full text of the complaint

"It is understood, that the Commission has been monitoring all election related activities and must have observed blatant violation of MCC by BJP, their office bearers, candidates, voters and supporters by using religion and religious places for electoral gains. An earlier complaint regarding the storyon 'Ram lalamandir' with photographs of Shri. Narendra Modi and Shri. L.K. Advani has already been submitted to the Commission.

News item in The Times of India dated March 22, 2014 with the heading "New Twist to Old Chant: 'Har Har Modi' in Varanasi" is another such example of use of religion and places of worship to seek votes by BJP and their leaders.

Sh. Narendra Modi who has been declared as a BJP candidate from Varanasi Parliamentary Constituency, also addressed a public rally where in the portrait of Lord Shiv was used as a backdrop of the stage, which is not permissible as per the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). Lord Shiv or Mahadev and the ancient Kashi Vishwanath temple at Varanasi have religious sanctity throughout the world. Hindus and all devotees of Lord Mahadev chant 'Har Har Mahadev, Ghar Ghar Mahadev' with deep sense of devotion to seek blessings of the Lord. No human being can replace Lord Mahadev in the said chant, which is being used by devotees since ancient times. It seems to be a deep conspiracy and a perverted electoral strategy of BJP to change the original chant and substitute the name Modi in place of Mahadev and conduct election campaign particularly to attrack follower of god. It has been observed that the BJP office bearers, their workers and supporters and also the candidates have been taking out procession/padyatra with BJP flags chanting 'Har Har Modi, Ghar Ghar Modi', which is totally against MCC. It also seems to be part of BJP's strategy to present Sh. Modi as Lord Mahadev to exploit religious sentiments of people for electoral gains to polarize votes and give a communal fervor to the elections in communally sensitive zone/area".