The Congress on Friday petitioned the Election Commission against the Bharatiya Janata Party alleging that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi [Images] has attempted to sully the image of party chief Sonia Gandhi [Images] by describing her as someone who was protecting a convict from the gallows.

In the complaint to the EC, Congress said, the "defamatory speech" was aimed to taint Sonia and it was in total disregard to the Model Code of Conduct.

"How can Sonia be alleged to protect somebody who is awaiting a decision by the President of India in accordance with law and constitutional provisions," the complaint said.

It claimed Modi, in an election speech, said it has been a year since Supreme Court gave Afzal Guru the death sentence for the Parliament attack, but why was Sonia refusing to hang the terrorist.

The Congress also complained to the commission about an advertisement on Parliament attack brought out by the saffron party in major national dailies of Gujarat, saying it attempted to create communal disharmony and gain mileage from it in the ongoing elections in the state.

"The advertisement refers to the Parliament attack and it is aimed at spreading a feeling of animosity," Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said.