New Delhi: The Election Commission on Wednesday set up a committee to examine the matter related to address of the Prime Minister to the nation in the light of the Model Code of Conduct which is in force for Lok Sabha polls.
An Election Commission spokesperson said the poll panel has directed a committee of officers to examine the matter immediately in the light of the model code.
In his address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday announced that India had demonstrated anti-satellite missile capability by shooting down a live satellite, describing it as a rare achievement that puts the country in an exclusive club of space super powers.
Declaring India has established itself as a global space power after the success of the operation 'Mission Shakti', Modi said the missile hit a live satellite flying in a Low Earth Orbit after it traversed a distance of almost 300 km from earth within three minutes of its launch.
The Congress accused Modi of indulging in theatrics and playing politics over scientists' achievements while other opposition parties complained to the Election Commission alleging violation of Model Code of Conduct(MCC).
"There is no great urgency in conducting and announcing the mission now by a government past its expiry date. It seems a desperate oxygen to save the imminent sinking of the BJP boat. We are lodging a complaint with the Election Commission," the TMC supremo Mamata Banarjee said.
In a complaint to the EC, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury wrote to the Election Commission, asking it why Prime Minister Narendra Modi was allowed to "politically colour" the achievements of Indian scientists in the midst of polls.
"This announcement comes in the midst of the ongoing election campaign where the prime minister himself is a candidate. This is clearly a violation of the model code of conduct," he added.
BSP supremo Mayawati accused Prime Minister Modi of playing politics over India's anti-satellite missile capability.
"Congratulations to Indian defence scientists for the successful experiment of shooting down a satellite in the space. But the prime minister playing politics under its garb for electoral gains is most condemnable," she said in her tweet in Hindi.
"The honourable Election Commission should definitely take cognizance of this," Mayawati said on Twitter.
