Joshi defends Ajai: 'BJP shouldn't bother about such small things'

A beleaguered Ajai Rai, Congress candidate from Varanasi who triggered a controversy over flashing his party's symbol while voting on Monday, got unexpected support from veteran BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi.

Responding to questions on Rai’s action by media persons, Joshi asked, “Everyone takes their hand into poll booth, should we cut it off?”

He also asserted that “a party which is winning with a huge majority should not bother about such small things.”

However, Joshi’s party is in no mood to forgive Rai.

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"In case of Narendra Modi, he was speaking to the media with a lotus symbol beyond a prohibited zone of 300-feet which is permissible. In case of Congress candidate in Kashi, he is inside the booth with a Congress symbol.

"Would the Election Commission take cognisance of it and take appropriate action or as in the case of Rahul Gandhi, who violated the model code of conduct by fiddling with a voting machine in Amethi, be let off on a fictitious basis? These are important issues," BJP spokesperson Ravishankar Prasad said in Delhi.

He said the EC should ensure that its approach does not give any indication of discrimination.

Meanwhile, another BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar called Rai's act as a "petty little issue".

"I don't want to give reaction on petty little issues. Let's see what the Election Commission does on the issue? Will Election Commission deal equally with all candidates or it goes soft on some people," Javadekar said.

Rai, who is at the centre of the allegations, said he was wearing the Congress party symbol in a "routine" manner.

"I am a Congress candidate...that (the symbol) is on my I-card too...definitely I was not informed. I use it usually during campaigning. This is normal and routine. It is placed on my heart," Rai said.

• Complete Coverage: Election 2014