CPI leaders meet CEC to demand action against Modi

New Delhi, Dec 7 (UNI) A high-level CPI delegation, led by its Floor leaders in Parliament, today met the full Election Commission and urged it to take ''punitive'' action against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for ''inciting violence and misusing religion for political ends'' during his election campaign.

At the 15 minutes meeting with Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami and the two Commissioners at the Nirvachan Bhawan, the CPI leaders drew their attention to Mr Modi's remark at an election rally at Mangrol on December 4, justifying the killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh in a fake encounter.

CPI Floor leader in the Lok Sabha Gurudas Dasgupta told UNI that they submitted a memorandum, saying Mr Modi's ''shameless'' defence of an act of murder, constituted a violation of the model Code of Couduct, and amounted to violation of the Rule of Law.

CPI Deputy Floor leader in the Lok Sabha C K Chandrappan and Rajya Sabha group leader D Raja, who were also in the delegation, stated in the memorandum that ''it is a clear case of inciting violence, misuse of religion for political ends and a shameless defence of an act of murder and as such constitutes violation of the Model Code of Conduct apart from being in violation of the Rule of Law.'' ''As such we implore the EC to disqualify him from contesing elections and take a punitive measure as per the law against him,'' the memorandum added.

The CPI leaders' meeting with the EC came a day after the Election Commission served a notice to Mr Modi for a ''communal appeal'' involving violation of clause(1) and (3) or item 1 of the Model Code of Conduct.

The EC has asked Mr Modi to give his reply by Saturday morning.

The notice said, ''The Commission, prima facie, is of the view that the referances to late Sohrabuddin and linking his name to terrorism, made in the speech, amounts to indulging in activity which may aggravate existing differences between different communities.'' The full commission team led by Mr Gopalaswami is also scheduled to visit Ahemdabad on December 9 evening and hold meetings with state officials on the second phase of polling on December 17.

The National Commission for Minorities also termed Mr Modi's comments a ''mockery'' of the Rule of law. The Left parties have also urged the Supreme Court and the National Human Rights Commission and the CBI to take congnisance of the matter.

UNI