Poll panel 'super cautious'; no complaints against former PMs: Congress' Jairam Ramesh

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Congress on Thursday said that the Election Commission of India is «super, super cautious» when it comes to complaints against PM Narendra Modi, after the poll watchdog asked the BJP to respond to the complaints filed by opposition parties accusing the PM of delivering a divisive speech in Rajasthan.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, «We had complained to the ECI. We brought to their notice that the PM's language is against the Model Code of Conduct, the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and various verdicts of the Supreme Court… There has been a delay, we have also complained about some other candidates misusing religion for votes.

We believe that the ECI will take action. We will reply to the notice we have got.»Highlighting thatECI has sent a notice to the BJP president, Ramesh said it should be looked into as to why the notice been issued.

Asked whether the Congress felt that the notice should have been sent to the PM, Ramesh said, «They are super, super cautious when it comes to the Prime Minister, they are super cautious when it comes to the home minister (Amit Shah).» «There had been no complaints against (former PMs) PV Narasimha Rao, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh. This is the second time we have complained against the PM,» he said.