Minority ad: BJP complaint against PM

The BJP has filed a complaint with the Election Commission against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and others following an advertisement issued by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, alleging that it was 8220;an attempt to woo voters of a particular community and a violation of the model code of conduct8221;.

The Ministry of Minority Affairs published a half-page advertisement in one of the national newspapers here on Sunday, two days ahead of the first-phase polls in the state to be held on December 11, titled, 8216;Prime Minister8217;s new 15-point programme for the Welfare of Minorities8217;. 8220;The advertisement is explicitly directed at minorities and specifies names of religions like Muslims, Christians and others,8221; BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told reporters here.

8220;It attempts to achieve polarisation on the basis of religion and it is a surrogate political advertisement calculated to give political advantage to the Congress party,8221; the BJP said in its compliant.

The BJP has also demanded action against Union Minister of Minority Affairs A R Antulay.