The Congress on Sunday moved the Election Commission seeking action against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly violating the poll code with his comments on former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

“The statement by Prime Minister is not only the violation of Model Code of Conduct but also an insult of Bharat Ratna awardee martyr. Hence, we appeal the EC to take action against Prime Minister Narendra Modi by barring him from speaking at public rallies,” NDTV quoted the Uttar Pradesh Congress as saying in a letter to the Election Commission.

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PM Modi, taking a jibe at Congress president Rahul Gandhi 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’ (corrupt) number 1.”

His remark came following Gandhi’s incessant attacks on him regarding allegations of corruption in the Rafale jet deal.

Rahul Gandhi responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s criticism of his father with a “huge hug” and a reminder of “karma” in a tweet.

“Modi Ji, The battle is over. Your Karma awaits you. Projecting your inner beliefs about yourself onto my father won’t protect you. All my love and a huge hug. Rahul,” the tweet read.

Gandhi’s sister and Rajiv Gandhi’s daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, too, slammed the PM for the remarks.

“The Prime Minister who insults martyrs by seeking votes in the name of their sacrifices yesterday crossed his limits by insulting the sacrifice of a noble man who gave his life for the country,” Priyanka Gandhi tweeted.

The Congress leaders described PM Modi as a “sick man” and “psychopath” a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Rajiv Gandhi a “corrupt” politician.

Senior BJP leaders Arun Jaitley and Prakash Javadekar hit back at Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on PM Narendra Modi.

Jaitley in a series of tweets asked if Rahul Gandhi believes dynasty does not have to answer any question. Besides, Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar targeted Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi.

“Why is Rahul Gandhi so disturbed if integrity issues of the Rajiv Gandhi government are raised? Why did Ottavio Quattrocchi get kickbacks in Bofors? Who was the ‘Q’ connection? No reply has come,” Jaitley said.

“The dynasty can attack the integrity of India’s Prime Minister — a man of utmost honesty. Does he believe that the dynasty does not have to answer any questions?” he asked.

Javadekar also made a series of tweets and said the abuses being hurled by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi on the most popular Prime Minister Narendra Modi reflects “dynastic arrogance”.

“Instead of answering the questions raised, they are continuously abusing the PM. Let Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi say whether is it not true that former PM Rajiv Gandhi had justified the genocide of over 3,000 sikhs in 1984? Let Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi say whether it is not true that Rajiv Gandhi, who secured 400+ seats in 1984 was thrown out of power by the people of India in the next elections for corruption taint of Bofors?”

“Let Rahul and Priyanka say whether it is not true that Bhopal Gas Tragedy prime accused Warren Anderson was provided an official plane to come to Delhi and then allowed to flee from India?” Javadekar asked.

“Let Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi say whether it is not true that Bofors middleman Quattrocchi was allowed to flee the country? Let Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi say whether it is not true that in Bofors case despite the detection of money trail, a further appeal was not made?” he further questioned.

“Let Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi say whether it is not true that Rajiv Gandhi accepted that when Rs 100 was sent to poor only Rs 15 was received by them. Let Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi say whether it is not true that now Narendra Modi ji sends Rs 100 and the poor people gets Rs 100 into their bank accounts,” he said.

The Election Commission has given a clean chit to PM Modi in as many as six complaints of violating the model code of conduct.

On Saturday, the EC gave a clean chit to PM Modi for his Gujarat speech in which he had claimed that the Indian government had kept Pakistan on its toes to ensure the safe return of its pilot.

So far, the EC has cleared six speeches of Modi, two of Shah and one of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi.

On March 19, the EC had issued an advisory asking parties not to invoke armed forces in their political campaign.