Modi to reply Election Commission by this evening

Dec 08:  The Election Commission has granted more time to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to reply to the notice, the commission has sent regarding his election speech that comes under violation of model code of conduct. Modi was to submit his clarification by 11 am of Saturday but he approached the commission asking for more time to explain his controversial remark.

During an election rally on Dec 04 the present Chief Minister justified the controversial and under the investigation of the encounter of Sohrabuddin Sheikh. The Muslim man was alleged as a terrorist and hence gunned down by police but later investigation revealed that it was a fake encounter. As a result several top police officers were charged with the murder of Sohrabuddin. The state government also admitted that the missing wife of Sohrabuddin was also killed and burnt by police.

As the Assembly election is on the corner the Election Commission with its model code of conduct is doing its every bit of effort to take the poll to a peaceful end. However, such comments by the top political leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) is not only a serious violation of the model code of conduct but also amount to aggravate religious sentiments between different communities.

BJP however terming Election Commission as bias said that Modi’s remark on Sohrabuddin was a political reply to the provocative remarks of Sonia Gandhi in which she described Modi as ‘merchant of death’. The party has also filed complaints against Congress leader Sonia Gandhi in this matter.

The Commission after receiving complaints from civil rights activist Teesta Setalvad issued a notice to the chief minister and now he has to answer why he made such a statement justifying murder when the case is still under investigation and the police officers involved are under scrutiny.

In the rally Modi said Sohrabuddin had got what he deserved that means his government is in favour of the killing and if so why he made a public statement in the mean time of election and not earlier.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is also ready to scan the issue after receiving various applications seeking investigation of the role of Chief Minister in the 2005 Fake Encounter and has set Dec 10 (Monday) for hearing. The Court will also rule on the application seeking action against Modi for his controversial remarks.