The Election Commission is learnt to have let off Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath with a light rap for his “Modiji ki sena” remark, asking him to be more careful in the future.

Not satisfied with the remarks, the EC is learnt to have told him that be “more careful in his utterances in future”, sources said.

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In an order issued late on Friday, the poll panel said that Adityanath’s remark was in violation of its directions not to use the achievements of India’s armed forces for political campaigning.

The EC also told Adityanath that since he is a senior politician holding an important position, his remarks should reflect his stature.

The commission was not satisfied with his reply in which he is learnt to have hailed the role of the EC in conducting polls.

At a rally in Ghaziabad, Adityanath had referred to the Indian Army as “Modi ji ki sena”, which triggered a political storm with sharp reactions from the opposition.

“Congress leaders would feed biryani to terrorists, while Modi’s army gives them bullets and bombs,’ he had said.

Adityanath’s remark created a political firestorm with the opposition leaders attacking the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister for “insulting and humiliating” the armed forces.

Following this, the Election Commission had issued a notice to the UP CM over his remarks and asked him to file a reply by April 5.

He replied saying that he was only stating “based on facts” that the present government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was taking strict action against terrorism “as opposed to the previous governments which had a soft stance towards the terrorists”.

Adityanath added that his use of the phrase “Modiji ki sena” was only because he was “speaking in people’s language”.

However, the EC was not satisfied with his reply.

On March 9, the EC had instructed all the political parties not to use defence personnel and their achievements for campaigning.

Earlier on Thursday, in an apparent rebuke, Union Minister VK Singh had said that the armed forces did not belong to an individual but to the nation.

His comments came after the controversy triggered over Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi’s remark calling the Army as ‘Modiji ki sena’.

Congress had on Friday urged the poll body to take cognizance of UP CM Yogi Adityanath and Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi’s “Modi ki Army” comment and take “decisive” action to deter others from making such a statement.

If the EC does not take action against the two leaders, Surjewala said, his party would “remind” the poll panel of its responsibilities.