EC issues notice to Rahul Gandhi for 'panauti', pickpocket remarks at PM Modi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday (November 23) has been issued a showcause notice by the Election Commission (EC) for making the "panauti" (harbinger of bad luck) and jeb khetra" (pickpocket) jibes at Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a poll rally in Rajasthan.

The EC has asked the Congress leader to respond by Saturday evening.

The Congress leader made the panauti remark while linking his presence in Ahmedabad at the World Cup finals to India’s loss against Australia.

"Our boys were going to win the World Cup, but panauti got them defeated. TV channels will not say this but the public knows,” Rahul said at the rally.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had approached the poll panel against the former Congress president, saying it was "unbecoming" of a senior leader to use such language.

The EC reminded Gandhi that the Model Code of Conduct prohibits leaders from making unverified allegations against political rivals. Demanding an apology from Rahul, BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “What has happened to you, Rahul Gandhi? You are so troubled because of the frustration of losses that you are using abusive language against the Prime Minister of the country. "

"Our Prime Minister loves our players and goes to boost their morale and to help them. The Bharatiya team is doing well in Asiads, Olympics and paralympics. Our players played very well. It’s all right – defeat and victory happen. Rahul Gandhi must apologise.”

Congress leader KC Venugopal defended Gandhi. Saying that Rahul ji has said what many have been thinking since two days, he said that the World Cup finals was a moment of pride for 140 crore Indians. And that everyone was looking forward to this “historic occasion”, but the BJP was desperate to hijack it for their political mileage.

“The BJP should be the last ones to talk about political correctness,” he said.

(With agency inputs)