The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday moved the Election Commission to file a complaint against Congress leader Supriya Shrinate over her alleged “objectionable post” targeting actor Kangana Ranaut.
The post read – “Can someone tell what is the current rate in Mandi (market)?”. The saffron party fielded the actor from Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi. Himachal is the home state of Ranaut.
In the election season, the BJP came forward in support of the newly entrant into politics. Former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jai Ram Thakur said the derogatory remarks by Congress leaders against Ranaut would be legally examined. Condemning Congress leader’s remark, Leader of Opposition Thakur, in a statement, said she has made a “big mistake” as people come to Mandi, known as “choti Kashi” and an abode for over 300 temples, with faith.
Shrinate and HS Ahir have kicked up a huge political row with derogatory comments on Ranaut and Mandi posted on their social media handles.
“BJP is legally examining the matter and moving towards registration of a case in this regard,” Thakur said.
“The People of Himachal and especially Mandi would not spare the Congress and the party would have to face consequences not only in Mandi but in the entire state and other parts of the country in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections,” he said.
Meanwhile, the BJP on Tuesday raised the issue of differing approaches of poll officials in different states to similar infractions by politicians and urged the Election Commission to take stringent measures at the right time.
A BJP delegation, including Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and its general secretary Vinod Tawde, met the poll watchdog to highlight this “discrepancy”.
Tawde later told reporters that while action was recommended against Union minister Shobha Karandlaje, who is contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Karnataka, for her controversial comments against Tamils, objectionable remarks of a Tamil Nadu minister have not drawn any censure.
In this context, Tawde also highlighted Shiva Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut’s comparison of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Mughal king Aurangzeb, considered by many a religious zealot.
While action was called for in the case of Shobha Karandlaje but poll officials are seen to having a different stand in states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, all of which are ruled by opposition parties, he said.
“We urged the Election Commission to take stringent action at the right time and we were assured that it will look into the issue,” he said. BJP leaders Om Pathak and Sanjay Mayukh were also part of the delegation.
