After Modi, Gadkari brings up ‘khooni panja’ to attack Cong

BJP prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi has run into trouble with the Election Commission for describing the Congress poll symbol as “khooni panja (bloodied hand)”, but the saffron party is refusing to let go of the expression.

BJP prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi has run into trouble with the Election Commission for describing the Congress poll symbol as “khooni panja (bloodied hand)”, but the saffron party is refusing to let go of the expression.

A day after the poll watchdog sought an explanation from Modi over his “khooni panja” remark, the Hindu nationalist party’s former president, Nitin Gadkari, used the same expression at a rally in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh.

“Khooni panja doesn’t work for people’s welfare, but cuts people’s pockets,” he said at the rally in Burhanpur, 120-km south of Indore, on Thursday.

The district Congress committee has objected to Gadkari’s remark and filed a complaint with the Election Commission.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government did not immediately react to the Congress complaint against Gadkari. The state goes to polls on November 25.