Shimla, March 9 (IANS): The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Himachal Pradesh Sunday demanded that the state government stop issuing ration cards carrying photographs of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
In a complaint to the state Election Commission (EC), leader of opposition Prem Kumar Dhumal said it was for the first time that ration cards with photographs of political leaders have been issued in the state.
"It is a clear-cut violation of the model code of conduct," the two-time former chief minister said.
He said the EC should intervene and stop the government from distributing such ration cards.
Ahead of the 2012 assembly polls, the EC stopped the then BJP government from distributing free public distribution system bags carrying a picture of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
The state has more than 16 lakh ration card holders.