Bhopal: Reacting to Election Commission of India’s (ECI) notice to him over the ‘item’ jibe row, Madhya Pradesh former Chief Minister Kamal Nath called the allegations of the BJP against him as ‘political canard and falsehood’.
He also termed the allegation and related outcry as an attempt of the BJP to divert the public attention from real issues.
In his response, he said that there has been no violation of para 1(1) and para 1(2) of the model code of conduct and the advisory of ECI (dated April 29, 2020) on his part. He also urged the commission to close the proceedings against him in consideration of his response.
“The BJP in Madhya Pradesh is facing a huge backlash of unethical and corrupt conduct. To obviate this stigma, these selective outcries are being orchestrated to divert the public attention from the real issues that are facing the electorate,” he added.
Addressing a gathering in Dabra in support of Congress candidate Suresh Raje, the former CM said Raje is a simple man who will carry out development work ‘unlike her…’.
“Ye unke jaise nahi hai… kya hai uska naam” (He is not like her, what is her name),” Nath asked the crowd which responded by saying BJP candidate Imarti Devi’s name.
“You know her better than I do, you people should have warned me beforehand… ye kya item hai… kya item hai,” said Kamal Nath.
“Suresh Raje and I will work together for the development of Gwalior-Chambal region, we will work for the youth of this region and chalk out a new policy for the farmers,” he added. BJP leaders took no time to condemn Nath’s remarks.