New Delhi, April 5
The Congress today moved the Election Commission seeking arrest of BJP leader Amit Shah for a hate speech he made in Muzaffarnagar on April 3 urging voters to "avenge dishonour" meted out to them in the recent communal riots involving the community and Muslims.

Taking exception to remarks by Shah, an aide of BJP's PM nominee Narendra Modi, the Congress demanded registration of an FIR, arrest of Shah and electioneering ban on him. The Congress also demanded action against Modi and de-recognition of BJP saying Shah's act was against the model code of conduct.

Shah during his election speech at village Raajhar in Muzaffarnagar said: "This election is about voting out the government that protects and gives compensation to those who killed Jats; it is about revenge and honour."

Congress legal cell secretary KC Mittal in the complaint to CEC VS Sampath said, "The speech is aimed at causing animosity between two communities, where communal violence had taken place recently … The memory of the deplorable incident is vivid in the minds of the people. Shah was addressing Jats and had gone with BJP candidate Suresh Rana, himself accused in riots."

The Congress also reported to EC that while staying at a hotel outside Muzaffarnagar, Shah met some leaders and spoke of revenge saying: "A man can live without food or sleep…But when he is insulted he cannot live… Apmaan ka badla toh lena padegha, Kisi maa ke laal mein himmat nahi hai ki who Gujarat mein dange karaye... wahaan Narendra Modi ki sarkar hai"."

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said Shah's statements were made with a calculated design to create communal hatred.