Coming under attack on reported move to curb the powers of Election Commission, Congress on Wednesday said the party never attempted directly or indirectly to bring disrepute or challenge the poll body's authority.

"Congress party's stand is very clear. We have never attempted directly or indirectly to bring disrepute to the EC or try to challenge the authority. We believe in the institution unlike BJP. To generalise in a statement, is purely due to political motives," Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters here.

Commenting on the criticism, he said it was an "over reaction in respect of the non-existent decision, at non- existent premature stage on the basis of papers circulated many months ago. This is deliberate attempt to sensationalise based on a non-decision."

On the firing of two Indian fishermen allegedly by two Italian marines off Kerala coast, Singhvi said, "The Indian law is operating in its own process. It will take its own course. I think if tables were reversed and the same was to happen in Italy, they would expect the same. We expect nothing more, nothing less", he said.