By IANS
New Delhi : The Communist Party of India (CPI) Friday asked the Election Commission (EC) to disqualify Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi from contesting the assembly elections for his controversial remarks justifying the killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh in a fake encounter.
A CPI delegation led by party MP Gurudas Dasgupta, who approached Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswamy with the party’s demand, said the remark was a clear incitement to violence and communal polarisation.
“It is a clear incitement to violence, misuse of religion for political ends and shameless defence of an act of murder, and as such constitutes violation of the Model Code of Conduct,” said a memorandum submitted to the poll panel. CPI MPs D. Raja and C.K. Chandrappan also signed the memorandum.
In his election rally in Magrol earlier this week, Modi acknowledged the killing of Sohrabuddin in a fake gun-battle with the police.
Pointing out that Modi’s remarks have implicated him, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Sitaram Yechury said Modi should be prosecuted.
The poll panel had sought an explanation from the chief minister regarding his comments.