Bharatiya Janata Party has asked the Election Commission to take strong action against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] for breaking the model code of conduct during his election speech in Karbi Anglong in Assam where he announced a Rs 602 crore rehabilitation package for the Karbi community.

Assam Assembly polls at a glance

BJP vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi led the party delegation. Other members of the delegation were former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad Singh and Prakash Javdekar. All election commissioners, including chief election commissioner B B Tandon, were present during the half an hour meeting.

Speaking to rediff.com, Naqvi said Dr Singh's announcements amounted to open violation of the model conduct.

"We have demanded that the Election Commission should take a strong action against the Dr Singh. He has openly violated the election commission guidelines. His announcements are unconstitutional and unethical. What is more annoying is the fact that the prime minister's office is justifying those announcements," he said.

Naqvi clarified that party general secretary Pramod Mahajan, against whom the commission has directed the registration of a complaint for holding a press conference after the campaign time was over, had not committed any offence. "In fact, Pramod Mahajanji has already filed his reply to the commission. We are of the opinion that holding of a press conference does not come under the model code of conduct," he said.