EC issues notice to Kejriwal

New Delhi: The Election Commission Saturday issued a notice to AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal for violating the model code of conduct by making "unverified" allegations against Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay.

The notice said that the commission has received a complaint from Upadhyay alleging that Kejriwal leveled "false, baseless and unverified allegations against him and Asish Sood, general secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party's Delhi unit".

The commission said that it has also received a report from Delhi's chief electoral officer in the matter and asked Kejriwal to give his explanation by 3 p.m. Tuesday.

The notice said that according to the model code conduct: "Candidates shall refrain from criticism of all aspects of private life, not connected with the public activities of the leaders or workers or other parties. Criticism of other parties or their workers based on unverified allegations or distortion shall be avoided."

Upadhyay had approached the EC on Jan 14 against Kejriwal's charges at a press meet that he and Sood were part of a company that supplied electricity meters to power discoms in Delhi.

The EC said that Upadhyay has also alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party leader in a speech had alleged that the BJP was trying to incite communal violence in Delhi.

It held that the model code of conduct also holds that no party shall indulge in any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred.