New Delhi, May 7: The Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday let off Prime Minister Narendra Modi for calling former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi "Bhrashtachari No. 1 (Corrupt No. 1)" at a poll rally in Uttar Pradesh last week. Dismissing the complaint against PM Narendra Modi, the poll panel said the prime minister did not violate the model code of conduct with his "Bhrashtachari No. 1" remark against Rajiv Gandhi.

"Prima facie, we did not figure out any literal violation of MCC as given in Election Commission of India instructions. Case is therefore disposed off," the ECI said. Taking a jibe at Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Modi at a rally in Uttar Pradesh's Pratapgarh on Saturday had said: "Your father was termed 'Mr Clean' by his courtiers, but his life ended as Bhrashtachari No. 1." Narendra Modi Gets Third Clean Chit by EC, No Violation of Model Code of Conduct in PM's Barmer Speech, Says Poll Panel.

The Congress approached the EC seeking to ban PM Modi from election campaigning for calling Rajiv Gandhi "corrupt". Senior Congress leaders Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Salman Khurshid, Rajeev Shukla on Monday met Election Commission to lodge a complaint against Modi. "We have asked the commission officials to bar Modi ji from further campaigning this election," Singhvi told reporters.

PM Narendra Modi reiterates "Bhrashtachari No. 1" jibe, watch video:

PM Modi reiterated the "Bhrashtachari No. 1" jibe at the Congress on Monday, challenging the grand old party to contest the Lok Sabha elections in the former prime minister's name. "My open challenge to Congress. Fight elections in the name of the former PM associated with Bofors in: Delhi and Punjab, where innocent Sikhs were butchered in his reign. Bhopal, where he helped Warren Anderson flee after the infamous Gas Tragedy. Challenge accepted?" PM Modi tweeted.

Reacting to the prime minister's remarks, Rahul Gandhi said: "PM has been talking about my father since yesterday. Let him whatever he wants to about me, my mother, my father and my grandmother. I will respond to your (PM's) hate with love. I had hugged you with love in Parliament too. And this love will make you lose on May 23."

Meanwhile, Congress MP Sushmita Dev today filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court, saying that by making extremely derogatory comments on Rajiv Gandhi, the Prime Minister has committed an "act unbecoming of the high office he holds; made unprecedented obscene/ derogatory remarks in a speech on May 6 by referring to present Congress President Rahul Gandhi's late father and former Prime Minster of India Rajiv Gandhi, in Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh."

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 07, 2019 09:43 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).