New Delhi: Congress on February 21 took strong objection to raising of the Ayodhya issue by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at an election rally in Himachal Pradesh, saying he has committed an offence against the Constitution of India and downgraded his office.

"We take strong objection to the brazenly partisan stance adopted by Vajpayee on Ayodhya issue in the course of his electioneering in Himachal Pradesh yesterday. Through this, he has committed an offence against the Constitution of India and downgraded the office of the Prime Minister," party spokesman S Jaipal Reddy told reporters.

He said though it was a clear case of breach of election code of conduct, the party was unlikely to approach the Election Commission on the issue.

Alleging that Prime Minister was biased in the matter, he said Vajpayee on February 20 did not remember that he was the Prime Minister of India.

"Any person holding office of the Prime Minister does not belong to any religious or social group, but belongs to every citizen and person," he said.

Reddy also took exception to Vajpayee's remarks that his government would abide by court verdict on the issue saying the Prime Minister was not giving any concession as there was no option left before anybody if the judiciary gives its final verdict.

"Vajpayee is not obliging anyone by saying so," he said, adding Congress was "deeply upset" at the manner in which the Prime Minister has been conducting himself on all the sensitive social issues.

PTI