EC's FIR against Rajnath unprecedented: Venkaiah Naidu

Varanasi, Apr 7 (UNI) Senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu today termed as ''unprecedented'' and ''highly objectionable'' the FIR registered against party president Rajnath Singh by the Election Commission on the objectionable CD issue.

Registering of an FIR against our national president is highly objectionable and unprecedented and has angered BJP workers across the country, Mr Naidu said.

The EC had registered FIRs against party president Mr Singh and leader of opposition in Uttar Pradesh assembly Lalji Tandon over the objectionable CD released by the saffron party, reportedly containing references to 1992 Ayodhya demolition and Godhra episodes.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer(CEO) Anuj Kumar Bishnoi had lodged the FIR in Hazratganj Kotwali yesterday in the state capital under sections 153 A and B, 505 A, B, and C of the IPC and section 123 and 125 of the Representation of People's Act. Most of the sections in yesterday's FIR are the same except section 123 of the RP Act which relates to spreading communal hatred.

The FIR was lodged soon after the BJP had submitted its reply to the Election Commision last afternoon on the CD case.

In New Delhi, BJP had asserted that it had not ''produced, prepared, displayed or distributed the impugned CD'' and urged the EC to withdraw its notice as the controversial CD never formed a part of official campaign material of the party.

The former BJP president also slammed ruling Samajwadi Party, Congress and BSP for raising a hue and cry over the issue by demanding de-recognition of the BJP as a political party.

UNI