Senior Congress leader Manish Tewari lodged a complaint with the Election Commission, seeking action against those indulging in “false and malicious” propaganda against him and his family on social media.
In a video clip that was attached with Tewari’s tweet, it was alleged that his father, late professor VN Tewari, was involved in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi and petrol was supplied from his petrol pump to “burn Sikhs”.
Describing the propaganda against him as “gutter and despicable”, the former Union minister, who is contesting from Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, said his family never owned a petrol pump anywhere in the country and his father was assassinated by militants on April 3, 1984, six months before the riots.
My election agent @DewanPawan has filed an FIR against the Malicious , defamatory & incendiary video clip circulated by my political opponents making vile and baseless allegations against my Late Father Dr. VN Tewari MP who was assassinated by terrorists on April 3rd 1984. pic.twitter.com/9B1d1gU3C4
— Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) May 2, 2019
“My mother was a Jat Sikh. My father was an academic at Panjab University, Chandigarh, and my mother retired as the Dean of the PGI. Our family has never owned a petrol pump ever in our lives anywhere in India. We have complained to the returning officer, Ropar SSP and the CEC. They need to act against the miscreants as soon as possible,” he tweeted.
“Those who failed in trying to raise the outside bogey against me have now stooped too low to malign me and my family with outrageous lies,” Tewari said on Thursday.
Had a fruitful interaction with residents of Garcha before addressing the gathering at Kahlon, who accorded me brilliant hospitality during the visit. Discussed their concerns and queries and assured them of my commitment towards their welfare.#TuhadaManish pic.twitter.com/LcLC0rZ241
— Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) May 2, 2019
The Congress leader is locked in a four-way contest against sitting MP and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Prem Singh Chandumajra, Aam Aadmi Party candidate Narinder Shergill and Punjab Democratic Alliance nominee Bir Devinder Singh.
Voting in Punjab will take place in the last phase of the Lok Sabha election on May 19.