Congress today congratulated the Election Commission over registration of an FIR, on its directive, against Narendra Modi after BJP's Prime Ministerial nominee prominently displayed his party's election symbol after casting his vote.
"I am happy that someone has registered an FIR in the case. Had it not been the EC, an FIR against Modi would not have been registered. I congratulate EC that a Constitutional and institutional authority has registered the FIR," Law Minister and Congress leader Kapil Sibal said.
He also took a dig at Modi saying he was surprised that a person, who is a candidate for the country's top post would come out of the polling booth and do such a thing.
"By showing the party symbol and by urging people to vote for lotus, Modi has proved that he has nothing to do with ethics and laws. He is an opportunist and he can do whatever he wishes to," said Sibal.
In legal trouble for Modi, the Ahmedabad crime branch today lodged an FIR against him for alleged violation of the election law.
"Two FIRs have been registered by the city crime branch in connection with the events," Gujarat DGP P C Thakur told PTI when asked if the police has registered an FIR against Modi.
Sources in the crime branch said that as per EC directive, FIRs have been registered invoking sections specified by the poll panel.
Modi had triggered a controversy when he addressed a press conference immediately after casting his vote at a school at Ranip area of Ahmedabad, part of party veteran L K Advani's Gandhinagar seat, where he prominently displayed BJP's election symbol lotus.
The EC's order directing lodging of a complaint/FIR said Modi had violated the provisions of Sections 126 (1)(a) and 126 (l)(b) of Representation of People Act, 1951.
The maximum punishment under these provisions of RPA is upto two years imprisonment.
Congress party accused him of violating the election law and filed a complaint with the EC.
AICC Communication department Chairman Ajay Maken had requested the Election Commission to direct Gujarat government to act neutrally on the alleged election model code of conduct violation by him.
Modi has "shred into pieces" the model code, he said.
Another General Secretary Shakeel Ahmed said that Modi was a "habitual and serial violator" of the model code.
He said that a wrong impression would go if the EC failed to take action against the BJP PM candidate.