New Delhi: The BJP Monday approached the Election Commission against Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, urging it to file an FIR and initiate “exemplary punitive action” against her, over her alleged remarks supporting “sovereignty of Karnataka”.
The complaint was based on a tweet by the Congress, where it said that at her speech in Hubballi on May 6, Sonia had said that “the Congress will not allow anyone to pose a threat to Karnataka’s reputation, sovereignty and integrity”.
A transcript of her full speech, however, indicates Sonia did not use the word “sovereignty”.
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, who led the BJP delegation to the EC, said the use of the word “sovereignty” was deliberate and it was the “agenda of the tukde tukde gang”. “The Congress is using words against the unity and integrity of India that should not have been used. The Election Commission heard our issues with seriousness,” Yadav said.
BJP leader Tarun Chugh cited the Representation of the People Act, and demanded that the Congress be derecognised. Union minister and convenor of the BJP Election Management Committee Shobha Karandlaje called Sonia’s statements “shocking and unacceptable”.
The BJP complaint to the EC came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched an attack on the Gandhi family at a rally in Nanjangud, Mysuru, over the “sovereignty” remarks, saying the “Shahi Parivar” of the Congress wanted Karnataka to secede from India. “I never thought that the tukde-tukde gang disease would reach such heights,” he said.
In its complaint to the EC, the BJP attached the screenshot of the Congress tweet on Sonia said, and alleged: “The Congress believes that Karnataka is separate from India… This is a shocking statement leading to igniting divisive sentiments and to create disharmony in society.”
The Congress tweet on Sonia’s speech said: “CPP Chairperson Smt Sonia Gandhi ji sends a strong message to 6.5 crore Kannadigas: ‘The Congress will not allow anyone to pose a threat to Karnataka’s reputation, sovereignty or integrity’.”
In her speech at Hubballi in May 8, Sonia said: “The BJP government’s loot, lies, arrogance and hatred has created such an environment that without getting rid of it neither Karnataka nor the nation can develop… Their leaders are so arrogant that they neither respond to any questions or letters. They think that constitutional bodies are in their pocket.”
In what appeared to be a reference to BJP president J P Nadda’s statement that the people of Karnataka should vote for the BJP to ensure “Modi’s blessings”, Sonia added: “Today, the situation is such that they issue open threats. They say that if they don’t win, then Karnataka will not get Modiji’s blessings. They say that if BJP loses then there will be a lot of fights here… I would like to tell them on behalf of you that don’t think of the people of Karnataka to be this powerless and weak. People of Karnataka are not dependent on anyone’s blessings, but their hard work and resolve. People of Karnataka are not cowards or greedy… People of Karnataka will tell you on May 10 what they are made of… The public takes its own decision about its fortune.”
Agencies

KR Desk