EC takes suo moto cognisance of Shaktisinh’s ‘maut ka saudagar’ remark

Ahmedabad, 28 March 2014

According to a report on news channel, the Election Commission of India has taken suomoto congisance of Congress spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil’s ‘Maut ka saudagar’ remark against Narendra Modi. More details are awaited on this.

BJP had lost three bye-elections after Modi became Chief Minister but after that he “allowed” the Godhra train tragedy and the riots. “If you don’t call him maut ka saudagar (merchant of death), how else can you describe him,” party spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil told reporters last Friday.

His remarks came in a response to a question on whether Congress still thinks that Modi is ‘maut ka saudagar’.

The comments of Gohil, a former CLP leader of Gujarat and known detractor of Modi, is bound to kick up a row as Sonia Gandhi’s same barb during the campaign in Gujarat assembly elections in 2007 had sparked a huge political controversy.

After the crushing defeat of the party, Congress had refrained from making such remarks fearing a communal polarization as Modi had used it to the hilt to his advantage.

The Congress spokesperson’s comments came even as Rahul Gandhi has in last many interactions with party leaders asked them to refrain from personal attacks.

However, it is also true that Congress has stepped up attack on Modi in the last few days as campaigning for Lok Sabha election picks up.