BJP goes to EC over Sonia Gandhi's 'sovereignty of Karnataka' remark

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday moved the Election Commission seeking action against Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and derecognition of her party for her use of the term 'sovereignty' for Karnataka during the state poll campaign.

A BJP delegation headed by Union minister Bhupender Yadav submitted a memorandum to the poll watchdog over the issue.

Photo Credit: Congress leader Sonia Gandhi

Union minister and BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje said, "Today we gave a complaint against Sonia Gandhi to Election Commission. She gave a speech in Hubbali in which she talked about the sovereignty of Karnataka. We use sovereignty for the country. She is heading the 'Tukde-Tukde' gang. We demanded that FIR should be registered against her."

The BJP's argument asserts that Karnataka is an integral part of India, and since the country attained independence from the British, there is no merit in discussing the independent sovereignty of a particular state.

The term 'sovereignty' used by Sonia Gandhi sparked negative reactions from the ruling BJP, providing them with new ammunition to attack the grand old party and its pre-election campaign ahead of the May 10 assembly elections.

During her initial rally in the state on Saturday, the former party president faced harsh criticism from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, other BJP leaders, and netizens who strongly objected to a sentence from her speech. She stated that the Congress party would not permit anyone to endanger 'Karnataka's reputation, sovereignty, or integrity'.

"Sonia Gandhi sends a strong message to 6.5 crore Kannadigas: the Congress will not allow anyone to pose a threat to Karnataka's reputation, sovereignty or integrity," read the tweet sparking a massive row ahead of the D-Day in Karnataka.

A day after Sonia's comments went viral, Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly criticised the Congress party for its 'open advocacy of Karnataka's secession from India', and asserted that the voters would give a befitting reply on May 10. He questioned the electorate if they could endorse such secessionist ideas and highlighted that the Congress party had expressed its desire to safeguard the sovereignty of the state in Karnataka.

The Prime Minister explained that this statement implies that the Congress thinks that Karnataka has seceded from India, which is a blatant insult to the patriotism of Kannadigas. He urged voters to turn out in large numbers on May 10 and vote for the BJP, making Karnataka the top state.

Referring to the comments, the prime minister said the "disease of the 'tukde-tukde gang' (anti-national elements) has reached the top level of the Congress".

A report published by Siasat quoted PM Modi as saying: "When it comes to working against India's interests, Congress' royal family will be at the forefront. I want to speak about a serious issue here, I want to say it as there is a lot of pain in my heart. This country can never forgive such a game. This family, to influence the politics in the country, is encouraging foreign forces to interfere."