Cong appeals to BJP not to make CD election issue

New Delhi, Apr 9 (UNI) The Congress today brought to the notice of the Election Commission the alleged attempt by the BJP to communalise the election scene in Uttar Pradesh by "trying to inflame passions and adopting a poll campaign which is divisive." At a hearing of political parties started by the EC on the release of the controversial CD by the BJP in Lucknow, a team of Congress leaders presented the party's case before the Commission.

The team included senior Congress leaders Kapil Sibal, V Narayanswamy, Ashok Gehlot and Devendra Prasad Dwivedi.

Mr Dwivedi later told mediapersons here that during the preliminary hearing the BJP urged the Election Commission to postpone its inquiry into the CD issue until after the Assembly elections, but all the other parties which appeared before the Commission insisted on an immediate inquiry into the matter.

The Election Commission, according to Mr Dwivedi, gave to the BJP one more day's time in which to file its reply. The Commission would start its inquiry into the matter from Wednesday onwards as each of parties that appeared before the Commission wanted to respond to the replies furnished by the other parties.

Mr Dwivedi said the Congress would effectively and forcefully put forward its case before the Election Commission.

He reiterated that the CD, released by the BJP, was intended to inflame passions, create hatred and feeling of enmity and ill-will among the various sections of society. It sought to malign the Muslims by casting doubt on their commitment to the Constitution.

Mr Dwivedi disputed the claim of the BJP leadership that it was not aware of the plans to release the CD and maintained that the CD was conceived and planned by the party's top brass. Referring to BJP President Rajnath Singh's attempt to court arrest, he said it was a "well designed drama to somehow make it an election issue" When Mr Rajnath Singh has distanced himself from the CD why is he anxious to get himself arrested, he asked and appealed to the Election Commission to proceed against the party for violation of the code of conduct and the People's Representation Act. He also appealed to the BJP to give up its stubborn attitute on the matter.

UNI