New Delhi: The BJP, on Monday, moved the Election Commission (EC) seeking a 5-day ban on actor-turned-politican and MNM president Kamal Haasan, for terming Nathuram Godse, who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi, as free India’s first Hindu terrorist.

The complaint filed by BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay, states that Haasan’s made the remark with the intention of outraging the religious sentiments of millions of Hindus.

It can be recalled that Haasan made the comment while speaking at an election rally for his party candidate in the Aravakurichi Assembly constituency where by-elections will be held on May 19.

“… the statement was made deliberately in the presence of a Muslim majority crowd for electoral gain, which is clearly a corrupt practice under Section 123(3) the Representation of the People Act 1951,” Upadhyay said in the letter to the EC.

He also accused Haasan of ‘promoting enmity between different groups’ on religious grounds.

Haasan’s comment drew sharp response from the state BJP, which slammed the Makkal Needhi Maiyam founder for indulging in “divisive politics”.

The Congress and the Dravidar Kazhagam, a rationalist organisation floated by the late E.V. Ramasamy, better known as Periyar, however, backed the MNM leader.

Haasan, who was addressing an election campaign in the by-poll-bound Aravakurichi on Sunday night, said he was one of those “proud Indians who desire equality and want the three colours in the Tricolour to remain intact. I am a good Indian and will proudly proclaim that,” he added.

The Aravakurichi Assembly constituency will go to polls on May 19.