EC issues notice to Amit Shah over 'revenge' remark

The Election Commission on Monday issued a notice to Narendra Modi’s close aide Amit Shah for his hate speech in riot-hit areas in western Uttar Pradesh during poll campaign, urging Jats to “avenge their insults”.

The poll panel asked the BJP general secretary to explain within three days as to why action should not be initiated against him for violating the Model Code of Conduct for his speeches while campaigning in Shamli, Bijnore and Muzaffarnagar districts in the state.

“The commission is, prima facie, of the opinion that by making the aforesaid statement you have violated provisions of the Model Code of Conduct...

“Now, therefore, the commission gives you an opportunity to explain your stand in making the above said statement before 5 pm on April 9, 2014, failing which the ECI shall take a decision without further reference to you,” the EC notice said. Shah triggered a row with his comment that the general election, especially in western UP, is “an election for honour. It is an election to take revenge for the insult. It is an election to teach a lesson to those who have committed injustice.”

While the Congress demanded immediate arrest of Shah, the Uttar Pradesh government has registered two FIRs against him. However the BJP, while defending his remark, also condemned the filing of the FIRs.

The Election Commission notice to Shah also referred to provisions of the Model Code that provide that ‘no party or candidate shall indulge in any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic’ and that ‘parties and candidates shall refrain from criticism of all aspects of private life, not connected with the public activities of the leaders or workers of the parties’.