New Delhi, May 1: The Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday issued a notice against Punjab minister and Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu for allegedly making personal remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a rally in Ahmedabad on April 17. The poll panel asked Sidhu to reply by 6 pm on Thursday. It is the second time, a notice has been issued against the Punjab minister by the EC. Sidhu had called PM Narendra Modi the "biggest liar" in his speech in Ahmedabad on April 17. Navjot Singh Sidhu Takes Jibe at PM Narendra Modi in Lok Sabha Rally, Says 'PM Modi Makes People Do Yoga By Keeping Their Plates Empty'.

During his rally in Ahmedabad on April 17, Sidhu had launched a scathing attack on PM Modi. He had said, “Narendra Modi is this your patriotism that people are hungry and you are making them yoga? Make everyone Baba Ramdev. Stomachs are hungry while people are forced to do yoga and pockets are empty while bank accounts are being opened.”

Meanwhile, on April 20, the EC served notice to Sidhu for his controversial comments during an election rally in Bihar’s Katihar on April 16. During the rally, Sidhu urged Muslims to vote unitedly to ensure the defeat of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Punjab Minister was then banned from campaigning for 72 hours over his controversial remarks. Using its extraordinary powers under Article 324 of the Constitution, the Commission censured Siddhu and barred him “from holding any public meetings, public processions and public rallies.

Yesterday, The EC barred Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan from election campaigning for 48 hours starting from Wednesday for violating Model Code of Conduct (MCC). He was banned from campaigning after a case was registered against the SP leader for violating the MCC at a rally in Uttar Pradesh's Rampur on April 25. This is the second time he was barred from campaigning by the poll conducting body.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 01, 2019 06:55 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).