The Election Commission issued a show-cause notice to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Thursday (23 November) for his remarks comparing Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a “pickpocket” and labeling him “panauti Modi” (bad omen Modi).

The Election Commission took action in response to a complaint filed by the BJP on Wednesday, alleging that Gandhi made “wild allegations” and “spoke in a derisive and obnoxious manner about the Prime Minister” during an election rally in Rajasthan.

According to the Indian Express, the EC has asked Gandhi to respond to the alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct and provide his explanation by 6 pm on Saturday.

The EC notice highlighted Gandhi’s comparison of the Prime Minister to a “pickpocket (jeb katra),” alleging that Modi distracts while someone else picks the pocket.

Gandhi, referring to Modi watching the India-Australia cricket World Cup final, claimed that Modi made India lose the match and referred to him as “P.M. matlab panauti Modi.” Additionally, he alleged that the Prime Minister had waived off Rs 14 lakh crore in loans for the wealthy in the past nine years.

The EC notice referenced the MCC provision cautioning against criticism based on “unverified allegations or distortion” and noted that the use of “panauti” falls under the definition of corrupt practice, as per the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

This act prohibits attempts to make an elector believe that they “will become or will be rendered an object of divine displeasure or spiritual censure.”

In the BJP’s complaint, it was argued that calling any person a “Jeb katra” amounts to vicious abuse, a personal attack, and character assassination. The BJP found Gandhi’s suggestion that the Prime Minister could be an ill omen highly reprehensible, emphasising that the outcome of a game is determined by the strengths of the teams, not the observer.

The complaint also contested Gandhi’s claim that the Prime Minister had granted waivers of Rs. 14,00,000 crores in the past nine years, considering it mischievous and malicious.

The BJP further clarified that the Prime Minister had not waived off any loans, and all banks operate under the supervision of the Reserve Bank of India, a statutory autonomous body.