EC didn't have courage to issue notice to Modi, BJP: Congress

New Delhi: The Congress on Monday accused the Election Commission of withdrawing its notice to party President Rahul Gandhi a day before the poll results in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh as they did not have the courage to issue notice to BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"When we gave a memorandum to the EC, we said notice should be issued to Narendra Modi, (BJP President) Amit Shah, (Union Ministers) Piyush Goyal and Arun Jaitley for violating Model Code of Conduct," said AICC General Secretary in-charge of Gujarat Ashok Gehlot.

"I want to ask the Election Commission why did they withdrew notice to Rahul Gandhi after the elections. Couldn't they muster courage to issue notice to these four BJP leaders.

"Had they withdrawn the notice after issuing notice to them (BJP) and hearing both sides, we would have understood. We did not demand withdrawing notice against Rahul Gandhi.

"Then why did they withdraw it suddenly? They don't have the courage to issue notices to their leaders (BJP)," he asked.

The poll panel withdrew its notice of December 13 to Gandhi for allegedly giving election-related interviews to TV channels a day prior to the second phase of polling in Gujarat.