LS polls: Congress moves EC against BJP`s `Har Har Modi` slogan

Congress moved Election Commission against BJP for using `Har Har Modi` slogan in Varanasi from where Narendra Modi is contesting Lok Sabha polls, saying it is against Model Code of Conduct.

New Delhi: Congress on Thursday moved the Election Commission against BJP for using `Har Har Modi` slogan in Varanasi from where Narendra Modi is contesting the Lok Sabha polls, saying use of religion is against the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct. Demanding de-recognition of BJP and action against Modi, Congress said despite the opposition party denying that `Har Har Modi, Ghar Ghar Modi` is its official slogan, party workers in Varanasi continue to use it.

Congress said Modi addressed a public rally in Varanasi where the portrait of Lord Shiva was used as a backdrop of the stage, which is not permissible under the Model Code. "Lord Shiva 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," the Congress memorandum signed by K C Mittal of its Legal Department read. Congress alleged that use of the slogan seems to be part of BJP`s strategy to "present" Modi as Lord Mahadev to exploit religious sentiments of people for electoral gains. Referring to media reports, it claimed that BJP has organised 400 mobile vans with LCD TVs installed, along with `Har Har Modi, Ghar Ghar Modi` slogan. It said BJP has now come up with a new slogan `Dil mein Modi, ghar mein Modi, Kashi ke kan kan mein Modi (Modi in every heart, Modi in every home; Modi everywhere in Kashi).` "The new slogan also aims at arousing religious sentiments and feelings of the people...`Kan kan mein Bhagwan (God is omnipresent)` is a well known religious slogan..." the memorandum said. It claimed the BJP`s official slogan "Abki baar, Modi sarkar (this time Modi government)" too cannot be used as it is "unconstitutional and undemocratic". "In Indian democracy, the system of political parties alone has a legal sanction to form government and not any individual," it said.