New Delhi, Dec 14: The Congress has filed a complaint before the Election Commission alleging that the public speech of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi against its President Sonia Gandhi with regard to the Afzal Guru case and the BJP's advertisement on the Parliament attack case were aimed at aggravating existing differences and creating mutual hatred among the communities in Gujarat.

AICC Spokesman Abishek Manu Singhvi told mediapersons that the complaint was filed yesterday in the context of breach of the Model Code of Conduct by Mr Modi and his BJP. The Party described as '' defamatory'' the speech of Mr Modi who yesterday asked why Ms Gandhi was refusing to hang Mohammed Afzal Guru, the main accused in the 2001 Parliament attack case, though the Supreme Court had given the terrorist a death sentence.

The Congress party today lodged a complaint with the Election Commission against the Bharatiya Janata Party for linking their party president Sonia Gandhi"s with Afzal Guru.

''The speech is intended to taint the unblemished reputation of Ms Gandhi by making a statement in total disregard to the Model Code of Conduct, which clearly states that criticism of other political parties, when made, shall be confined to their policies and programmes, past record and work,'' the petition said.

The petition asked how Ms Gandhi could protect someone who was awaiting a decision by the President of India in accordance with the law and constitutional provisions.

On the BJP's advertisement that appeared in local dailies in Gujarat yesterday, the petition said it violated the model code of conduct which restrained a political party or candidate from any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic.

In the advertisement published yesterday, to coincide with the sixth anniversary of the Parliament attack, the BJP, in obvious reference to the delay in the execution of Afzal Guru, said, ''the conspirator is still alive because of vote banks,'' and asked '' For the sake of votes, how long will you compromise with terror?''



UNI