Election commission in India requests comments on criticisms leveled against Modi and Rahul Gandhi

Election commission in India requests comments on criticisms leveled against Modi and Rahul Gandhi

The Election Commission of India said on Thursday that it has requested comments from the opposition Congress and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) about purported election law infractions by Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The biggest election in history is being held in India across seven phases, with the results expected on June 4.

Notifications from the panel stated that in their complaints to the commission, the Congress and the BJP charged Gandhi and Modi of giving divisive comments over language, caste, and religion.

Referring to Muslims as “infiltrators” and “those who have more children” during a campaign address on Sunday, Modi—who is running for an uncommon third consecutive term—drew harsh condemnation from opposition parties and a protest from Congress to the poll panel.

In their lawsuit, the BJP claimed that Gandhi tried to sow discord on the basis of language and cultural differences.

J.P. Nadda, the president of the BJP, and Mallikarjun Kharge, the president of the Congress, have been asked to respond by April 29 to the election panel.