Cong targets BJP on Varun Gandhi issue

New Delhi: With the BJP on Monday rejecting the Election Commission's advice of not nominating Varun Gandhi as candidate in the Lok Sabha elections, Congress said the saffron party's game plan of communalising the elections was clear.

The AICC also demanded an amendment to the Representation of the People's Act to debar those spreading communal hatred as the present provisions were "extremely weak".

Party General Secretary Digvijay Singh said that the Congress representation in this matter was ready.

"It becomes absolutely clear that the game plan of BJP is to communalise the election from day one. In Nagpur, they again raised the Ram mandir agenda. They extended support to the Malegaon blast accused. Support to Varun Gandhi is also obvious," Singh told reporters.

He sought to drive a wedge in the NDA by asking JDU leader Nitish Kumar and other allies of the BJP to take note of the action of the saffron party.

At the AICC briefing, spokesman Abhishek Singhvi alleged the BJP is habituated to attacking constitutional authorities.

"BJP is habituated to attack constitutional authorities. It has the audacity to speak on a matter which is on tape ... They are trying to shoot the messenger and ignore the message ..." Singhvi said.

Singhvi said that everyone saw the issue (reported statements of Varun Gandhi) but the BJP has given two statements - the EC is biased in favour of the Congress and they will give ticket to Varun.

"This is a unanimous decision of the Election Commission. Those who preach morality to the country should pass the test," Singhvi said.

Asked if the Congress would have reacted in the same manner had Varun been its candidate in the elections, Singhvi said it was a "hypothetical question".

To a query if the BJP candidate from Pilibhit should be declared guilty even before the charges are proved, Singhvi said, "there is something called prima facie evidence. We believe that even a blind person would not have a doubt (Varun on tape)".

Asked about the allegations of the BJP that Congress had fielded candidates like Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar, allegedly involved in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in the Capital, Singhvi said, "this are typical diversionary tactics".

"Jagdish Tytler has gone through it several times. There is only a complaint. Sajjan Kumar has been acquitted," he said.