IANS/New Delhi

The Election Commission yesterday issued notice to the Bharatiya Janata party’s prime minister candidate Narendra Modi over remarks he made at a rally terming the Congress election symbol, the hand, “khooni panja” (bloodied hand).

The remark was made last Thursday during an election rally at Dongargarh in Chhattisgarh.

Modi has also used the term “jalim haath” (cruel hand) to describe the Congress symbol.

The BJP, however, maintained there was no violation of the election code of conduct.

“The Election Commission notice has reached us. We will go through the details and respond,” BJP spokeswoman Nirmala Sitharaman said. She added, however, there was “no violation of the code of conduct in his (Modi’s) statement.”

The Congress complained to the Election Commission that Modi’s comment was “intemperate, malicious and defamatory.”

“The use of the expression ‘khooni panja’ is extremely significant and deplorable and has an effect of terrorising the public at large against the Congress,” the party said in its petition.

The commission meanwhile expressed dissatisfaction with the reply of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi to charges of violation of the model code of conduct in his speeches.

“The commission conveys its displeasure and advises you to be more circumspect in your public utterances during election campaigns,” the Election Commission said in its order.