Modi to replay EC's notice on Dec 8
New
Delhi,
Dec
8:
Gujarat
Chief
Minister
Narendra
Modi
will
submit
his
reply
today
on
a
notice
issued
by
the
Election
Commission
over
his
justification
for
the
2005
fake
encounter
of
Sohrabuddin
Sheikh.
Modi
will
submit
his
reply
by
11
a.m.
on
a
notice
which
was
issued
for
violating
the
model
code
of
conduct.
The
three-member
Election
Commission
took
the
decision
after
considering
various
inputs
and
the
complaint
filed
by
Teesta
Setalvad
alleging
that
Modi's
speech
on
December
4
at
Mangrol
in
connection
with
an
election
campaign
amounted
to
an
open
exhortation
to
violence
and
misuse
of
religion
for
political
ends.
The Commission also viewed the video recording of the speech. The Commission prima-facie is of the view that the references to late Sohrabuddin and linking his name to terrorism by Modi in his speech amounts to indulging in activity which would involve violation of the provisions of the model code of conduct.
The Commission says that these observations may aggravate existing differences, creating mutual hatred and causing tension between different communities.
At an election rally in Jamnagar District on December 4, Modi had admitted that Sohrabuddin Sheikh's encounter did happen in Gujarat. "Yes, Sohrabuddin's encounter happened in Gujarat and If Sonia Gandhi (India's ruling United Progressive Alliance Chief) wants she can hang me for this," said Modi.
The Supreme Court on Friday decided to hear two separate petitions seeking action against Modi on his "inflammatory" remarks about the fake encounter of Sohrabuddin, on Monday.
The petitions were filed by senior counsel Dushyant Dave on the behalf of Rubbabuddin Sheikh, brother of Sohrabuddin Sheikh and by Prashant Bhushan, who appeared for Javed Akhtar.
Both sought an inquiry into Modi"s justification for the fake encounter of Sohrabuddin Sheikh. Sohrabuddin Sheikh, was reportedly gunned down on November 26, 2005 after being branded a Lashkar-e-Toiba militant by the Gujarat Police, allegedly trying to hatch a conspiracy to kill Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. The cops also allegedly killed Sohrabuddin's wife, Kausar Bi.
ANI
>