Lucknow/New Delhi, May 5 (IANS) BJP leader Narendra Modi Monday invoked the name of Lord Ram in a Lok Sabha election speech and urged the people to vote out the "corrupt and incompetent Congress government at the Centre".
In New Delhi, the Congress went to the Election Commission (EC), calling it a "misuse of religion to canvass".
Modi, speaking in Faizabad, the twin city of Ayodhya where the disputed Babri mosque-Ram temple site is, said even Mahatma Gandhi espoused the cause of "Ram Rajya".
"... When people asked Mahatma Gandhi how good governance should be, he would reply in one word, a welfare state should be like 'Ram Rajya'," Modi said.
"I am privileged to be in the land of Lord Ram..." the Gujarat chief minister said at the rally.
The BJP's prime ministerial candidate, however, did not mention the Ram temple issue in his speech.
Speaking against the backdrop of the proposed Ram temple in Ayodhya, Modi also urged the people not to vote for the mother-son government, referring to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and party vice president Rahul Gandhi.
"This is the land of Lord Ram where people believed in 'pran jaye par vachan na jaye' (one may lose life but cannot break a promise). Can you pardon those who broke their promises?" Modi questioned.
Faizabad has been the seat of the Ram temple movement of the '90s that drummed up support for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The Congress went to the EC, complaining about the use of a religious symbol for canvassing, calling for derecognition of the BJP.
"The BJP and Narendra Modi have used the portrait of Lord Rama, which is strategically placed behind the podium from where the speech is being delivered by Narendra Modi. The headgear of Lord Rama fits on the head of Modi," the Congress said in its complaint.
"This is clear misuse of religion to canvass and seek vote on the basis of religion," the Congress said, adding the speech was broadcast live across the country.
"It is therefore, requested that FIR should be registered against all of them and the BJP may be derecognised under the symbol laws and any other action as may be," said the letter.
The BJP, meanwhile, took a dig at the Congress saying it keeps running to the EC with complaints.
"The Congress keeps running to the Election Commission with complaints... I would urge the Congress to make an expressway from its headquarters to the EC headquarters so they can complain any time," BJP leader Yashwant Sinha said in the national capital.
In the staggered Lok Sabha polls, balloting in Faizabad will be held May 7.
The Whole Country Was Welcoming The Health Workers Who Saved Lives from Corona, But Stones Pelted At The Doctors Who Went To Investigate In Indore
Indore. People stoned people on the team of Health Department, which arrived at Tatpatti Bakhal here to investigate the corona infected. Health workers ran away after saving their lives. The
Weather Update Today: Alert of heavy rain in these 20 districts of UP, know how the weather will be in other states today
The tentative date for the end of the monsoon season has arrived. Meanwhile, torrential rains are continuing in many states. From UP in the north to Kerala in the south, there are situations like
If India reaches the semi-finals, who will clash: Know the complete equation of Group 1, 3-3 points of top-4 teams
On Friday, the Group-1 match of Super-12 between Australia and England was washed out due to rain. This match was very important for both teams to reach the semi-finals.
Vande Bharat Train: New Vande Bharat Express will beat European trains in speed! The railway is making big preparations
Currently, two Vande Bharat trains are operating in the country. Indian Railways is considering running Vande Bharat trains on many more routes. Meanwhile, Western Railway has been allotted a new rake
Punjab-Haryana face to face on stubble burning: CM Manohar said – only 10% is burning in Haryana; More than 13 thousand cases in Punjab
Punjab and Haryana have again come face to face over the pollution of stubble burning in the fields. Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar has solely blamed Punjab for the increasing air pollution in the
Approval of the world's first nasal corona vaccine: Made by Bharat Biotech, will be used as a booster dose; Will be available in private hospitals from today itself
The Government of India has approved the world's first nasal corona vaccine. Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, which manufactures Covaxin, has developed it in collaboration with the Washington
Dhoni's magic, parenting woes and Hinduism (Books This Weekend)
With the Indian team riding high after registering their first win in the 2015 World Cup against arch-rivals Pakistan, we have a book on the struggles and triumphs of Indian cricket team captain
Muslims not accepted in Indonesia after Pakistan, thousands reached mosque by breaking lockdown
Jakarta Muslim fundamentalists now appear to be violating government guidelines in Indonesia, even after forcing mosques to be opened in Pakistan despite lockdown. Hundreds of people on the occasion
Maharashtra: 9 killed in a horrific road accident on Mumbai-Goa highway, car badly damaged after colliding with a truck
A horrific road accident has been witnessed on the Mumbai-Goa highway in Maharashtra. Due to the collision of a car and a truck, 9 people in it died on the spot. Three women are also included in the
PSG got another defeat on their home ground, fans got angry with Messi, and teased the middle ground
The team of Paris St. Germain, adorned with star footballers Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Embappé, suffered defeat for the second consecutive match on the home ground on Sunday. Lyon
