The Congress has asked the Election Commission for necessary and immediate censures against PM Narendra Modi for using “obscene and derogatory remarks” against Rajiv Gandhi.

A delegation of senior leaders Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Salman Khurshid and Rajeev Shukla submitted a memorandum with the election body on Monday.

On May 4, 2019 at a rally at Uttar Pradesh’s Pratapgarh, PM Modi had called former PM Rajiv Gandhi a corrupt man, hinting at allegations that due to the latter, Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi received kickbacks in the Bofors deal.

“Your father he died as ‘bhrashtachari no.1’ (corrupt no 1). This arrogance will destroy you. This country forgives mistakes but never betrayal,” PM Modi reportedly said.

In the memorandum, the Congress said that the remarks violates the Model Code of Conduct which bars parties or politicians from making unverified allegations against opponents or from making comments on any aspect of their private lives. And, that Gandhi was absolved of charges by the Delhi high court, which had dismissed the charges as baseless in February, 2004.

“Despite the court’s orders, the Prime Minister in a vile and malicious attempt to malign the former Prime Minister’s image has gone this far ahead with his false accusations only to further his election propaganda,” the memorandum read.

On Monday, Modi threw a challenge at the Congress, asking it to contest the remaining phases in the name of Rajiv Gandhi. He also dared the Congress to a debate on the Bofors scandal. “A few days ago I had called a member of the naamdar parivar (dynasty) as ‘bhrashtachari (corrupt) no. 1’ and some people got such a severe stomach ache that they started crying aloud. The more they cry, the more will today’s generation come to know of the old truths.

First Published: May 07, 2019 10:13 IST