Congress says Amit Shah's Gandhinagar rally violated model code of conduct

The state Congress on Tuesday complained to the state's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) against BJP president Amit Shah for allegedly violating the model code of conduct for holding a rally near hospitals.

The BJP held a rally and road-show near Sardar Patel statue cross-road in Naranpura before Shah went to Gandhinagar for filing his nomination papers for Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat on March 30.

The Congress alleged in the complaint that three big hospitals, with emergency and trauma care wards, exist near the crossroad, and holding a rally around such an area was a violation of model code of conduct.

"How can permission for using loudspeakers be given in the vicinity of hospitals, where so many patients are undergoing treatment," state Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi, said.

In a letter to CEO S Murali Krishna, Doshi alleged that traffic was stopped on public roads all of a sudden for the road-show without the police commissioner issuing any notification or public circular.

"These are serious lapses. The administration has ignored its functions, and there is a clear violation of model code of conduct. A complaint should be filed against the BJP candidate," he demanded.