EC bans Satpal Satti from campaigning for 48 hours over using expletive against Rahul Gandhi

The Election Commission on Friday barred Satpal Singh Satti, BJP chief of Himachal Pradesh, from election campaigning for 48 hours starting 10 am on Saturday for violating Model Code of Conduct.

The poll panel had on Tuesday served a notice to Satti for allegedly making a derogatory comment against Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

Satti adds to the list of leaders after UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union minister Maneka Gandhi and Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan barred from campaigning by the poll panel for violating the model code of conduct during their election rallies.

Satti had refused to apologise for his remarks, saying he was merely reading a message shared widely on social media, asking party workers not to forward such texts.

Meanwhile, a video, which went viral on social media, showed an alleged Congress supporter Vinay Sharma -- claimed by the BJP to be a former deputy advocate general of the state during Congress rule -- announcing a reward of Rs 10 lakh for any person who cuts off Satti's tongue.

The BJP filed a complaint with the state chief electoral officer, demanding registration of FIR against the Congress and Vinay Sharma for threat, criminal intimidation, instigation of physical violence and for other electoral offences. 

On Monday, state Congress general secretary Rajneesh Kimta had filed a complaint with the CEO against Satti for allegedly using expletives against the Congress president.

Kimta also lodged a police complaint, demanding a case be registered against the BJP leader.