Modi tour of Bangladesh violation of model code, says TMC

He visited temple to influence voters in Bengal, party complains to EC

In a complaint against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Trinamool Congress has alleged amounts to violation of model code of conduct. No Indian Prime Minister has so brazenly violated the code by indirectly campaigning for his party from foreign soil, the party said in a complaint to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora. PM Modi visited Bangladesh to participate in the and the birth centenary of ‘Bangabandhu’ Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on March 26. TMC Rajya Sabha Parliamentary Party leader Derek O’Brien in the letter said the party has no objection to India’s participation in the official events but the party takes umbrage at the events of March 27, also the date for polling for the first phase of elections in West Bengal. Saturday’s events included a visit to Orakundi, birthplace of Matua sect founder Harichand Thakur. PM Modi also tweeted pictures from the Matua temple and the description was also translated into Bengali. The Matua community, immigrants from Bangladesh, has considerable clout in North 24-Parganas and Nadia, which will vote in the subsequent phases.