Zee Media Bureau/Himanshu Kapoor
New Delhi: Election Commission on Thursday served a notice to Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi for his alleged speeches in which he had said that Pakistan`s ISI was trying to exploit Muzaffarnagar riot victims and accused BJP of playing politics of hatred.
According to reports, the poll panel issued the notice to the Congress leader after examining his speeches made in Churu, Rajasthan on October 23 and in Indore, Madhya Pradesh on October 24.
The Commission also took into account a complaint filed by the main opposition party, BJP, in this regard and the electoral officer`s report in connection with Rahul’s speech.
"The Commission is prima facie of the view that your aforesaid speeches are violative of above-referred sub paras (1), (2) and (3) of Para 1 of the model code of conduct for political parties and candidates,” the EC said in its order.
The poll panel also directed him to explain by Monday why action should not be initiated against him for prima facie violating the model code of conduct.
The development comes a week after a delegation of BJP leaders met the EC officials and handed over a complaint letter against Rahul Gandhi for his alleged defamatory speech during his poll campaigns in Rajasthan.
The BJP had sought action against the Gandhi scion after he addressed rallies in Churu and Kherli in Rajasthan for "inciting riotous behaviour."
During a rally in Indore, Rahul had claimed that some Muslim youths from riots-hit Muzaffarnagar area were contacted by the Pakistan`s intelligence agency, ISI.
