After ‘cycle’, ‘hand’ lands in trouble: BJP files case against Rahul Gandhi in EC for co-relating party symbol with religion

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday filed an official complaint against Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi for allegedly violating model code of conduct by co-relating Congress party symbol ‘hand’ with Hindu symbol of holy blessing. 

"In the recent Supreme Court judgement, no religious figures can be used for the political purposes, here he (Rahul Gandhi) has blatantly misused the column," BJP leader S Prakash told media.

Prakash said the party symbol is not allowed into the poling both but the 'hand' will always be with the voters, so when they enter the polling both their hands will be visible and which is a violation of the code of conduct.

A co-signatory on the complaint Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi revealed that Election Commission has said that they have taken it very seriously and that they'll take necessary steps. 

“By their statement they're (Rahul Gandhi/Congress) trying to say that if you're voting for their symbol, you are voting for your religion,” Naqvi said. He added, “This is a case of corrupt practices and a clear violation of model code of conduct. Their symbol (Congress) must be seized.”

Also read:

Akhilesh Yadav gets Samajwadi Party and Cycle symbol

EC order on cycle symbol to change dynamics of UP assembly elections 2017

BJP announces names of 149 candidates for UP assembly election 2017