RAJKOT/AHMEDABAD: The Election Commission has directed the district administration of Bhavnagar to file an FIR against VHP leader Pravin Togadia for a hate speech on Saturday when he called for the forcible eviction of a Muslim family from a Hindu-dominated locality.

On Monday evening, Gujarat's chief electoral officer Anita Karwal said, "We have inquired about the Bhavnagar incident and have directed the district administration to file an FIR in the matter."

Earlier in the day, Togadia denied having made such a speech and threatened to sue publications, such as TOI, that had carried reports of his hate speech. He was supported by Ram Madhav of RSS who tweeted, "Pravinbhai had not said anything that was attributed to him. It was a fabricated news. No swayamsevak (RSS volunteer) thinks on those lines."

BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar told journalists: "I talked to Togadiaji. He said he did not make such a statement." These strenuous denials are, however, at odds with the video of Togadia's speech, a copy of which is in TOI's possession.

On Saturday, Togadia had joined a street protest for driving out a Muslim family from a house purchased by it in the Meghani Circle area in Bhavnagar. He told the gathering that they should give the family an ultimatum of 48 hours, and if the house isn't vacated, storm it with "stones, tyres and tomatoes" and put up a Bajrang Dal board on the house.

Saffron groups remove banner that sparked row

After this was reported on Monday, the saffron groups in Bhavnagar brought down the banner warning against sale of properties to Muslims in "Hindu" areas. Local VHP members were seen looking for persons who videographed Togadia's speech on Saturday night. In his speech, Togadia had himself cautioned against leakage of the video recording to the media.

Congress leader Kapil Sibal said, "Togadia always spreads venom. And he belongs to that category of people in this country who do not believe in the unity and the integrity of India."

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) demanded action against Togadia for "vitiating the peaceful atmosphere" during elections. AAP also demanded that Narendra Modi should "come clean" on the issue. It's another matter that relations between Modi and Togadia have been very strained and they have not been on talking terms.