The Election Commission Friday issued a fresh notice to Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu for prima facie violating the model code of conduct by making alleged remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

EC served a notice to cricketer turned politician Navjot Singh Sidhu now a minister in Congress Government in Punjab for making objectionable statements.The EC acted against Sidhu after the BJP lodged a complaint against him, accusing him of making objectionable statements against Modi at a rally in Bhopal on April 29.

The EC noted that it was of the view that Sidhu had prima-facie violated the Para 2 of Part 1 of the Model Code of Conduct, which required the leaders, candidates and the political parties to avoid criticism of other parties or their workers based on unverified allegations.

The poll-panel asked him to submit his explanation by Saturday.

Sidhu allegedly said referring to Prime Minister,"After stealing money from all nationalised banks of India, Modi Saheb tells poor people, tells rich people – keep fleeing, keep fleeing".

He reiterated the Congress' allegations against Prime Minister and his government on the deal to purchase Rafale fighter jet for Indian Air Force from Dassault Aviation of France. Sidhu called Modi "anti-national" and accused him  of doing politics over bodies of deceased soldiers of armed forces of India.