Your Shakti Vs our Shakti: Telangana Congress accuses PM Modi of 'violating MCC'

Hyderabad: Telangana Congress senior vice-president G Niranjan has complained to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Shakti remark calling it a violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

What did PM Modi say?

Addressing a public rally in Shivamogga in Karnataka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Yesterday in Mumbai Shivaji Ground (park), INDIA Alliance announced that they want to destroy ‘Shakti’. If they want to destroy ‘Shakti’, then worshipping ‘Shakti’ is our resolve.”

What is the violation?

G Niranjan in his letter to Election Commission said that PM Modi is distorting Rahul Gandhi’s speech in Shivaji Park. “It is unfortunate that PM Modi is trying to instigate religious sentiments among people by distorting the statement. Our request to the election commission is to restrain the PM from these speeches which is essential for the peaceful conduct of elections in the country,” he said.

Why the mud slugging?

“BJP is trying to show that they are the only ones who worship the Goddess and they are the only ones respecting mothers and sisters of this country. In my letter to EC, I have pointed out how the ruling government is trying hard to distort the version of Rahul Gandhi’s speech. The misinterpretation of his speech is an attempt to damage his image. This is against the election rules and model code of conduct which is in force in the country,” G Niranajan said,

What did Rahul Gandhi say?

Addressing a rally after the conclusion of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra at Shivaji Park, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, “Our fight against Modi is not on a personal level. Modi is a ‘mask’ who works for a ‘shakti’ (power). He is a shallow man who doesn’t have a 56-inch chest." This statement of Rahul Gandhi was clarified by him and also his supporters and Congress workers on various platforms on social media.

With the model code of conduct in force, it is up to the Election Commission of India to enforce decorum. In the recent press conference of ECI, questions were directed to CEC on ‘why do they act against Opposition leaders and not against the ruling ones.”