BJP on Thursday sought to wash its hands off the sari distribution function at Lucknow that led to a stampede in which 22 women were killed in the Prime Minister's constituency telling the Election Commission that it was in no way involved, either directly or indirectly, in it.
A delegation of BJP leaders led by party spokesman Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi met the full Election Commission on Thursday to submit the party's response on the issue.
The party was issued a show cause notice by the Commission on April 16 giving it a week's time to reply. The Commission had also directed the UP government to file a criminal case of electoral bribery against BJP leader Lalji Tandon.
Twenty-one poor women and an infant were trampled to death in the stampede during the saree distribution programme organised to celebrate the birthday of Tandon on April 12.