EC issues notice to Narendra Modi for 'khooni panja' remark

The Election Commission has issued a notice to BJP's PM candidate Narendra Modi on Wednesday for his 'khooni panja' remark against Congress during a rally in Chhattisgarh.

The EC asked him to explain his stand by November 16 as to why action should not be initiated against him for the violation of model code of conduct.

The remark was made last Thursday during an election rally at Dongargarh in Chhattisgarh.

The BJP, however, maintained there was no violation of the election code of conduct. "The Election Commission notice has reached us. We will go through the details and respond," BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said. She added she wished to clarify that there was "no violation of the code of conduct in his (Modi's) statement".

The Congress complained to the Election Commission that Modi's comment was "intemperate, malicious and defamatory".

"The use of the expression ;khooni panja; is extremely significant and deplorable and has an effect of terrorising the public at large against the Congress," the party said in its petition.