Somalia remark: Kerala may move EC against Modi

Kerala is planning to move the Election Commission (EC) against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for comparing the Infant Mortality Rate among the state’s Scheduled Tribes to Somalia’s.

Addressing reporters in Kochi on Thursday, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said the move comes in the wake of Modi’s reluctance to “correct himself” on the issue.

“There was an opportunity for him to clarify and withdraw the statement (during Wednesday’s election rally in Tripunithura), but since he has not done that, we are exploring possibilities of approaching the EC to raise the issue,” the chief minister said.

Modi had, during a poll rally in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, made the controversial statement triggering protests on social networks and a political backlash.

Chandy contended that the matter fell within the EC’s purview because the prime minister made the statement while addressing an election rally.

Chandy also reiterated that Kerala figured on top in the list of states with best human development indices. Chandy had earlier written to Modi, pointing out the factual error in the Kerala-Somalia analogy. “The statement has hurt Kerala and its people,” the chief minister said.