New Delhi, Apr 15 (UNI) Armed by the Supreme Court decision to issue notice to the Congress president, the BJP on Monday demanded an apology from Rahul Gandhi for his repeated jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said the Election Commission should take 'serious cognizance' of his conduct.
A BJP delegation led by Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi met the poll panel and alleged that Mr Gandhi's comments also amounts to casting aspersions on 'Backward community' as Prime Minister Modi hails from a humble background.
'We met the EC and appealed that action should be taken against Rahul Gandhi and Congress party,' Mr Naqvi told reporters.
Earlier in the day, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "BJP demands that the Election Commission should take serious cognizance of the remarks of Rahul Gandhi.'
He also said perhaps it was high time for Rahul Gandhi to tender an apology.
"I do not know, how far it may be right to make a demand from Rahul Gandhi. But we demand that if there is some shame left in him, Rahul Gandhi should tender apology to the country," the Union Minister said.
Mr Prasad said after filing nominations from Amethi on April 10, Mr Gandhi had made remarks wherein he had sought to attribute words in the verdict or ruling of the Supreme Court which the apex court had not said.
BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi had filed a contempt plea in the top court on Friday in which she said the Congress president has been "misinterpreting" the apex court's ruling on the Rafale deal with France.
The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to Mr Gandhi and said he should respond on or before April 22.
The top court had dismissed pleas to probe Rafale fighter jet deal with France, blunting the opposition’s attack on Mr Modi in the multi-billion-dollar purchase.
The apex court had in December said that there will be no court-monitored probe into the Rafale deal.
In its observation the Supreme Court said, "We make it clear that views, observations, findings attributed to this court in the alleged speeches, remarks made by (Rahul) Gandhi to media or public have been incorrectly attributed to this court".
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