SMS campaign against Cong launched in Guj

Ahmedabad, Dec 8: A fresh election campaign has been launched through SMS stating that Gujarat will respond to the ''merchants of death'' and ''Hindu terrorism'' remarks made by Congress President Sonia Gandhi and AICC chief Digvijay Singh.

The six line message, apparently sent by ''Vande Gujarat'', stated, ''Sonia ben bole, Gujarat ma maut na saudagar che (Sonia Gandhi said Gujarat is having merchants of death).

''Digvijay Singh bole, Gujarat ma Hindu terrorists che (Digvijay Singh said Gujarat is having Hindu terrorists).

''Aa che Congress nu secularism? (Is this secularism of the Congress?).

''Ave jawab deshe Gujarat!'' (Gujarat will answer this question!) The Election Commission has banned SMS campaigns and mobile operators were directed to inform the state election office of any violation at the earliest.

BJP General Secretary Arun Jaitley yesterday accused the Election Commission of having adopted double standards by not issuing notices to both Ms Gandhi and Mr Singh while it had issued a notice to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi who was responding to their statements.

UNI