Sonia`s remark meant for entire Gujarat machinery: Congress

Zeenews Bureau New Delhi, December 11:

Responding to EC’s notice over Sonia Gandhi’s “Merchants of Death” remark, Congress on Tuesday clarified that her remark was actually meant for the entire government machinery and not individual specific. The party added that the UPA chairperson had not said “anything” objectionable during her election rallies in Gujarat. The Congress president made the controversial remark during her speech at a rally in Navasari district on December 01. The EC had acted after the BJP accused the commission of going soft on the Congress when it had taken serious note of Modi’s utterings on Sohrabuddin’s fake encounter case. Besides Sonia, senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh also responded to the Election Commission’s (EC) notice sent to him over his “Hindu terrorism” remark. Defending himself, Singh said that he did not mention “Hindu terrorism” and all the allegations against him are baseless. Singh also sought more evidence and CDs from the Election Commission to prove allegations that he violated the moral code of conduct. Congress had been flip-flopping on the "merchants of death" controversy so far and the top brass of the party on Monday suggested that Sonia Gandhi did not name Modi but had the entire state administration including the Chief Minister in mind when she made those remarks. Earlier, defending Sonia Gandhi and Singh, the Congress spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that the AICC president had not mentioned any individual at all. Singhvi made it clear that the Congress party would not deviate from its stand while adding that there was no need to overreact to the issue. The party made it clear that Sonia Gandhi’s statement was not meant to undermine any one or settle any political score with any individual. The party added that Sonia’s speech was a reflection of the voices of those being suppressed and harassed by the fundamentalists and was a harsh comment on the pathetic political situation of the state. The Congress’ expected reply to the EC coincides with the first phase of the state Assembly elections in Gujarat, which began today amid tight security. The political wrangling between the incumbent BJP and the Congress party continues, as the former had attacked the latter for failing to protect the Hindu nationalism where as the other seems to be going hard on the Modi’s Hindutva card and fake killings in the state. The fuss over Sonia’s remarks started after Modi received a notice from the Election Commission for justifying the killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh in a fake encounter.
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Sonia Gandhi may have made a case out if she had called only Modi a Merchant of Death. But calling an entire government machinery Merchants of Death is not going to be condoned by any educated person. She is going to get her comeuppance on this one. - K.Venugopal