India’s West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) has registered a formal complaint with the election commission of the country against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Bangladesh saying it violates the model code of conduct.
Earlier, Mamata had slammed Modi over the timing of his Bangladesh visit and said the trip was aimed at the assembly polls in Bengal.
TMC has said in its complaint that the Bangladesh visit by PM Modi is a “gross violation of democratic ethics and the Model Code of Conduct”, reports India Today.
The party said in its letter that the party doesn't have any issues with the prime minister visiting Bangladesh, but with the timing of the visit.
It said, "Trinamool strongly objects to Shri Modi's programmes in Bangladesh on March 27. These had nothing to do with either the 50th anniversary of the independence of Bangladesh or the birth centenary of 'Bangabandhu'."
TMC has said the visit was "solely and exclusively intended to influence" the voters in certain constituencies.
On Saturday, as West Bengal voted in the first phase of assembly elections, Modi was visiting the Matua temple in Bangladesh, where he offered prayers. Mamata Banerjee accused him of violating the poll code by timing the Bangladesh visit with an eye on the Bengal polls.
The TMC chief said the Matua community is spread over India and Bangladesh. However, Modi didn’t mention the West Bengal elections during his visit.
Mamata said at a public meeting on Saturday, "Modi is delivering a speech at a temple in Bangladesh with an eye on elections in West Bengal."
"This is total violation of election code of conduct, we are taking up the issue with Election Commission," Mamata said. The Matua community in West Bengal is estimated to be 30-million strong.
Modi during his two-day trip to Bangladesh to attend Bangladesh's 50th anniversary of independence, had visited the temple at Oranakandi, birthplace of the Matau community's spiritual guru Harichand Thakur as well as the temple of Jessoreshwari in Satkhira.
