BJP on Friday urged the Election Commission to file a criminal case against Mallikarjun Kharge and bar him from campaigning in the Karnataka assembly polls, stepping up its attack on the Congress president for his “poisonous snake” barb at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Union minister Bhupender Yadav, who led a BJP delegation to the Election Commission, told reporters that Kharge’s comment was not merely a slip of the tongue but part of the Congress’ “hate politics” as he accused the party of working to spread disharmony and provoke people ahead of the high-stakes polls in the southern state. BJP general secretary Tarun Chugh said Kharge is a “habitual offender” and noted that Congress leaders have made a number of “hateful” personal attacks on Modi. The BJP has demanded registration of an FIR under IPC Sections 499 and 500, which deal with defamation, and Section 504, which deals with the offence of deliberate insults and provocation. The delegation also included BJP chief spokesperson Anil Baluni and party leader Om Pathak.