BJP meets EC, demands FIR on Sonia Gandhi for 'sovereignty' comment

Ahead of the May 10 Karnataka Assembly elections, BJP mounted a scathing attack on Sonia Gandhi and urged the Election Commission (EC) to direct the registration of an FIR against her for making a 'divisive' statement by using the word sovereignty for Karnataka, which is an integral part of India. BJP also called it an election code violation on the part of Sonia Gandhi.

Bengaluru (Karnataka) : A delegation of BJP leaders urged the Election Commission (EC) for ordering the registration of an FIR against AICC former president Sonia Gandhi for 'deliberately' using the word sovereignty for Karnataka though the southern state has been an integral part of the country. A BJP delegation met the EC in Delhi on Monday and sought the required action against the Congress leaders.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a massive criticism against Sonia Gandhi, saying that her comment was tantamount to adopting a divisive policy against India as a whole by looking at a State as a separate entity. Speaking to the media after meeting the EC, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav said the Congress manifesto is nothing but the agenda of the 'Tukde-Tukde' gang (anti-Modi propaganda machine) and this is why they are using such words (sovereignty for Karnataka). He called Sonia Gandhi's statement as an anti-national act and urged the EC to take immediate action.

On Saturday, Sonia Gandhi remarked at an election rally in Karnataka that the Congress will not allow anyone to pose a threat to Karnataka's reputation, sovereignty or integrity. The BJP was quick in taking objection to the use of the word 'sovereignty' by the Congress leader. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing an election rally yesterday, criticised Sonia Gandhi's statement and said that it only exposed the 'divisive mindset of the Congress party's royal family'.

The BJP leaders had also said that by making such a 'secessionist' remark, Sonia Gandhi had also violated the Election Code of Conduct in the May 10 Karnataka Assembly elections. The saffron party also sought deterrent action against the Congress leader so that such statements would not be repeated in future.