NEW DELHI: The Congress on Wednesday hit out at the Election Commission of India after it ordered action against Rahul Gandhi and TV channels airing his interview for violating the Model Code of Conduct in force in Gujarat.

“If FIR against news channels for showing interview of Congress President, why no FIR against PM, FM, Union Minister & BJP President on this ground? Are these not double standards? Let there be accountability,” tweeted senior party leader Randeep Surjewala.

Surjewala also alleged that the action was meant to suppress the voice of the media.

“In 2014 elections, Modiji even showed the BJP symbol on voting day but EC didn’t act. BJP held a press conference just before the first phase of the Gujarat election. These double standards won’t work and the first FIR should be filed against PM Modi and other Bjp Leaders, instead of the press,” he charged.

In an earlier tweet, he had mocked the EC for its “new norms for justice.”

“PM Modi, BJP president Amit Shah, finance minister Arun Jaitley and railway minister Piyush Goyal have violated Model Code of Conduct again and again. PM Modi misused the FICCI platform to attack Congress. EC should stay unbiased,” said a Congress delegation led by Ashok Gehlot at the EC office in Delhi.

The delegation submitted a memorandum to the EC demanding immediate registration of FIRs against BJP leaders for violating the model code of conduct.

The EC had earlier today directed Gujarat’s chief electoral officer to file FIRs against media channels that had telecast Rahul’s interview across poll-bound districts in violation of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

The body had also issued a notice to the Congress president-elect, asking him to explain by December 18 why action should not be taken against him.

(With inputs from agencies)