Cong seeks review of EC order on CD, demands CBI probe

New Delhi, May 9 (UNI) The Congress today expressed dissatisfaction at the Election Commission's ''lenient view'' on the inflammatory CD released by the BJP ahead of Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, and urged the constitutional body to review its order if even that was not complied with by the saffron party.

''The Congress had expected the Election Commission to order a stringent punishment for the BJP, but there could not have been a more lenient view of such a serious offfence,'' Congress spokesperson Jayanti Natrajan said, and recalled that the Congress had initially demanded a CBI inquiry into the matter.

Addressing a press conference in the precincts of Parliament, she said that if the BJP does not follow or obey the instructions or orders of the Election Commission in a healthy manner, then her party would request the EC to review its order. The EC had ordered the BJP to publicly condemn and disown the contents of the CD, earlier sought to be distributed in Uttar Pradesh.

''The entire nation was aware that the CD was released at a press conference by senior BJP leaders, with the CD bearing the election symbol of the party and the pictures of senior party leaders A B Vajpayee and L K Advani figuring in it,'' Ms Natrajan said.

Recalling that such inflammatory CDs had been released by the BJP earlier too, she said the BJP had sought to distance itself from the CD, saying that it was not officially released by the party.

''But this does dot absolve the party of the charge of destroying the secular fabric of the country through the distribution of the CD,'' she added.

Ms Natrajan said the distribution of such a CD had the potential to spread hatred against a community and destroy communal harmony.

''It was a violation of the IPC and the Representation of People Act and the BJP was liable to be punished under these laws,'' she noted, adding that if the BJP refused to comply with the order of the Election Commission, then the Congress would demand a CBI inquiry and punishment to the guilty in the most stringent fashion.

UNI