Cong asks EC to take action against MP Tourism Minister

New Delhi, Nov 10 (UNI) The Congress today strongly condemned the ''violent attack'' made by Madhya Pradesh Tourism Minister Tukoji Rao Pawar against the Returning Officer for Sonkatch Assembly constituency, and asked the Election Commission to take ''most stringent'' action against the Minister.

''We fear that the BJP-- the ruling party in Madhya Pradesh-- may misuse its power and create more violence during the election process. We, therefore, condemn this attack and call upon the Election Commission to take most stringent action against the Minister,'' Congress spokesperson Jayanti Natarajan told reporters.

Citing reports, she said the Minister threw papers at the Returning Officer, Sanjana Jain, and tried to intimidate her to work according to his directions.

''The arrogance and the violence displayed by the BJP Government in Madhya Pradesh is shocking and condemnable,'' Ms Natarajan said.

''The fact that the violence was being directed against a Returning Officer in the very process of elections shows the fascist nature of the BJP and the contempt for democratic norms exhibited by the party. This has revealed a very disturbing trend,'' she added.

The Returning Officer has lodged a complaint against Mr Pawar, alleging that he obstructed the official work and threatened her with an intent to insult.

According to reports, Mr Pawar had a dispute with the officer on November 8 when he had gone to meet her to complain against Sajjan Singh Verma, the Congress nominee from Sonkatch.

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