Acting on a complaint by the BJP, the Election Commission of India (ECI) issued a show-cause notice to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday for his “panauti”, “pickpocket” and “loan waiver for the super rich” jibes at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The ECI has asked him to respond by Saturday.

The ruling BJP had approached the apex poll panel against the former Congress president, saying it was “unbecoming” of a “very senior leader” to use such language. The ECI has also reminded Gandhi, an MP from Kerala’s Wayanad, that the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) prohibits leaders from making unverified allegations against political rivals.

In its representation to the EC, the BJP had asserted that the allegation of grant of waivers to industrialists of Rs 14,00,000 crore over the last nine years was “not borne out on facts”.

Also Read: ‘Shameful’: BJP demands apology from Rahul Gandhi over ‘panauti’ jibe at PM

The EC notice said the expression “panauti” ex-facie falls in the equity of the prohibition of section 123 of the Representation of the People Act, dealing with corrupt practices.

Clause 2, sub section (ii) of section 123 states that any person who induces or attempts to induce a candidate or an elector to believe that he, or any person in whom he is interested, will become or will be rendered an object of divine displeasure or spiritual censure, shall be deemed to interfere with the free exercise of the electoral right of such a candidate or elector, the notice reminded Gandhi.

The Congress leader had used those words targeting the PM at recent rallies in poll-bound Rajasthan, where elections are due on November 25.

Gandhi had used the “panauti” (harbinger of bad luck) against Modi in a poll speech in Rajasthan, as PM had attended he World Cup cricket final that India lost to Australia after 10 consecutive wins in the tournament.

During a public rally in Balotra, Rajasthan, Rahul Gandhi had allegedly said, “Panauti… panauti… Achha bhalaa hamare ladke wahaan World Cup jeetne waale the, par panauti harwaa diya. TV waale ye nahin kahenge magar janta jaanti hai (Our boys were going to win the World Cup, but panauti got them defeated. TV channels will not say this but the public knows).”

The “pickpocket” dig at Modi was taken during a poll speech in Bhaatpur’s Nadbai on Wednesday, alleging that the PM diverts people’s attention while industrialist Gautam Adani picks their pockets. This is how pickpockets operate, he had alleged.

The notice also recalled a general advisory issued by the EC, in which the poll panel had expressed concerns at the “plummeting level of political discourse” during electioneering.

Also Read: WATCH VIDEO | Rahul Gandhi takes ‘panauti’ dig at PM at Rajasthan poll rally

The commission also told Gandhi about a Supreme Court observation that if freedom of speech and expression is protected by Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, the right to reputation is also considered to be an inextricable part of the right to life protected by Article 21 and “balancing these two rights is a constitutional necessity”.

“Accordingly, you are requested to provide your explanation on the allegation made and to show causes as to why action as deemed fit for alleged violation of Model Code of Conduct and relevant penal provisions is not initiated by the commission.

“Your reply, if any, be reached by 6.00 pm of November 25. If no reply is received by then, action deemed fit will be taken by the commission,” the notice said.

This is the first notice issued to Rahul Gandhi amid the ongoing polls, his sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has been given two notices by the EC.