Rahul Gandhi Faces Election Commission Notice For ‘Panauti’ Comment On PM Modi

New Delhi: The Election Commission has issued a notice to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi following a complaint by the BJP regarding his recent “Panauti” comment directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The BJP alleged that Gandhi used derogatory terms and made unverified allegations during his campaign in Rajasthan, where assembly elections are scheduled for Saturday.

The Election Commission, citing a violation of the Model Code of Conduct, has instructed Gandhi to provide an explanation by Saturday evening. The code prohibits leaders from making unverified allegations against political rivals.

During a rally in Rajasthan on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi accused PM Modi of diverting attention from crucial election issues, stating, “He comes on TV and says ‘Hindu-Muslim’ and sometimes goes to a cricket match. Our boys would have won the World Cup, but the panauti (bad omen) lost us the match.” The BJP demanded an apology, with senior leaders condemning the comments as shameful and disgraceful.

The comment, which went viral on social media, drew criticism from the BJP. Union Minister Rajeev Chandrashekar characterized Gandhi’s remarks as a sign of desperation and mental instability, highlighting the need for an apology.