New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wrote a letter on Tuesday Election Commission of India (EC) is seeking action against Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge over his “terrorist” remarks Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The party termed Kharge’s remarks as a “grossly derogatory” statement and a violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).In a formal complaint to the Election Commission, the BJP wrote: “As has been widely reported, Mr Kharge, while addressing a conference, has called Hon’ble Shri Narendra Modi ‘he is a terrorist.’ “This comment has been widely circulated in print, television and digital media, which has great potential to vitiate the election environment.”The party argued that such comments amounted to “extreme personal condemnation” and violated the standards of campaign discourse mandated under the MCC, which is in force in the electoral state of Tamil Nadu.Earlier in the day, Kharge had courted controversy by calling PM Modi a “terrorist” while criticizing the AIADMK-BJP alliance in Tamil Nadu during a press conference. However, later, the Congress chief clarified that he meant that the PM was “terrorizing people and political parties” and insisted that he had not literally called him a terrorist. Now BJP has given a sharp response by going to the Election Commission regarding its five-point demand.The BJP urged the Election Commission to “take immediate cognizance of the statement which prima facie violates the Model Code of Conduct” and sought directions to Kharge to issue a “public apology/retraction” or face appropriate campaign sanctions.It also called for punitive action under provisions of the Indian Judicial Code, including sections 175, 171/174, and 356(1). The party said: “Calling a political leader contesting an election a ‘terrorist’ is not a mere policy criticism; it is a serious allegation touching personal character and conduct.”Furthermore, the BJP requested the Election Commission to “immediately stop further dissemination of the disputed statement in campaign material and digital campaign” and direct the media and social media platforms to remove such content.It also urged the election body to “pass such orders as necessary to maintain the dignity of the electoral process and ensure a free, fair, peaceful and issue-based campaign.”“Such rhetoric lowers the level of campaign discourse, inflames emotions and undermines free and fair elections,” the letter said.The party further claimed that “branding a political opponent in criminal-terrorist terminology in front of voters is an attempt to distort voter choice through fear, demonization and false personal branding rather than legitimate political persuasion.”The complaint came hours after the intensive operation in Tamil Nadu ended on Tuesday evening. The Election Commission has not yet issued its reply to BJP’s letter.