Narendra Modi hid facts about his marriage, broke law: Congress complains to EC

Hours after Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi targeted BJP`s prime ministerial hopeful Narendra Modi`s personal life, his party lodged a complaint with the Election Commission in this regard.

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Hours after Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi targeted BJP`s prime ministerial hopeful Narendra Modi`s personal life, his party on Friday lodged a complaint with the Election Commission in this regard. Narendra Modi hid marital status in earlier affidavits, hence violating law, noted Union Minister Kapil Sibal after complaining to the EC. "We have given a plea to the Election Commission. In his affidavit in Vadodara (Lok Sabha constituency of Gujarat), Narendra Modi informed that he is married. Prior to that, none of his affidavits mention this. It is hence proven those affidavits were wrong," Sibal said. "We have sought action from the Election Commission. There are sections in Indian Penal Code under which this is punishable," he said. Modi wrote Jashodaben as the name of his wife in an affidavit while filing his nomination papers in Vadodara, Gujarat for Lok sabha election, earlier this week. He had so far kept quiet on the issue of his marital status. Congress today appealed to the Election Commission to examine the matter of `false` affidavit. Addressing an election rally in Doda town of Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency earlier today, Gandhi said: "Narendra Modi has fought many elections in the past, but not once did he disclose the name of his wife nor even admit he is married.” The BJP has warned the Congress against bringing the private matters of their leader`s life in public, saying the Bharatiya Janata Party also knew about several "family issues" of the Gandhi family. "There are several family issues of the Nehru-Gandhi family that we are aware of. Some of it is also recorded in documents..." BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Friday. "But we will not discuss it in public because we have a standard," he said. Prasad said: "Modi`s elder brother wrote a letter and made it clear that it was a child marriage. He then became a Sangh Pracharak... When the elder brother has clarified on the issue, why is the Congress raking up the issue?" Modi was a "pracharak" or grassroot worker of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Pracharaks are supposed to remain unmarried.