Patna, Oct. 9 (PTI): The Rashtriya Janata Dal complained to the Election Commission against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday for his 'shaitan' (devil) remark directed at its chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, who meanwhile called Modi a “brahma pishach” (super demon).

In a complaint submitted to Bihar's Chief Electoral Officer Ajay Nayak, the RJD accused Modi of using “disparaging and insulting” language against its party chief and the Yadav caste and urged the poll panel not to allow him to address further rallies in the poll-bound state.

Separately, Lalu said, “If I am a 'shaitan', he is a 'brahma pishach' [powerful demon spirit as described in ancient Hindu texts].”

“I would tell people of the state about PM's 'shaitan' remark against me,” Lalu told reporters in a bid to link the controversy with the pride of the state and more particularly that of the backward castes.

The RJD chief also launched a counter attack at Modi in his tweets, citing the Gujarat riots when he was the chief minister, saying, “Ask those giving sermon to others which 'shaitan' rode on him in Gujarat in 2002? At that time the 'atma' [heart] of [former prime minister] Atal Bihari Vajpayee had cried for him not following 'raj dharma'.”

The RJD chief also dared Modi for an open political debate.

At a poll rally in Bihar on Thursday, Modi trashed Lalu's explanation that he had made the “Hindus eat only beef” remark--that had triggered a controversy-- under the influence of “shaitan” [devil].

“I wonder the devil got only his [Lalu] body to enter. I want to know how the shaitan got the address [of Lalu]. The devil got no other body in entire Bihar, India and the whole world except that of his. And he also welcomed the devil as if some relative has come,” Modi said.

RJD national spokesman Manoj Jha and his Bihar state counterpart Chitranjan Gagan in their complaint drew the EC's attention to Modi's remark, “Hamara mukabala Shaitan se” [now our political contest is with devil].”