NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Thursday barred Himachal Pradesh BJP chief Satpal Singh Satti from campaigning for 48 hours. Himachal Pradesh BJP chief had allegedly made a derogatory comment against Rahul Gandhi at a public event in Himachal Pradesh on Sunday, provoking strong protests from the Congress.

Earlier, the Himachal Pradesh election office had served a notice to the state BJP chief Satpal Singh Satti for allegedly using an expletive against Congress president Rahul Gandhi. The election office and the local police had said that they are looking into a BJP complaint that a Congress supporter has offered a reward of Rs 10 lakh to anyone who cuts off Satti's tongue.

State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Devesh Kumar said Satti has been served a notice for violation of Model Code of Conduct by the district election officer (DEO) of Solan.

The police registered an FIR against Satti for his alleged derogatory comments at a recent election meeting.

Despite a police complaint, Himachal Pradesh BJP chief Satpal Singh Satti had said he did nothing wrong in repeating a message that used a cuss word for Congress president Rahul Gandhi to counter his "chowkidar chor hai" (the watchman is a thief) attack against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.