India's poll panel orders BJP, Congress to show restraint in campaign

India's election panel on Wednesday ordered the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and opposition Congress to exercise restraint in their campaigns, after both had reported the other for making divisive speeches during India's vote.

The panel said the parties' defences for the speeches by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi were "not tenable" and issued notices to the presidents of both groups.

In their complaints to the Election Commission, the BJP accused Gandhi and Congress accused Modi of making divisive speeches on religion, caste and linguistic issues.

India is holding the world's largest election over seven phases, with votes due to be counted on June 4.

The Congress accused Modi of seeking votes in the name of religion by saying in recent speeches that Congress would seize and redistribute the wealth of India's majority Hindus among minority Muslims, whom he referred to as "infiltrators" and those who have "more children" last month.

Modi later denied targeting Muslims in his campaign. Congress denied making any election promise on wealth redistribution.

It ordered the parties to "refrain from making any statement" prohibited under the election Model Code of Conduct.