Lok Sabha polls 2014: Congress MP asks Narendra Modi to clarify on "false" affidavit

PANAJI: Congress Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik today asked BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi to clarify why he filed a "false" affidavit vis-a-vis declaration about his marital status.

Modi had kept the column blank during Gujarat Assembly election, while in his affidavit filed before the Election Commission for the Lok Sabha polls yesterday, he revealed his wife's name as Jashodaben, Naik said in statement issued here.

"Modi has to clarify as to why he filed a false affidavit in the last Assembly election by not disclosing the name of his wife, and further, as to how and why he is not aware of the other relevant financial details of his wife," Naik has said.

Claiming that he has verified the form filled by Modi, Naik said the BJP leader has mentioned "Mahiti Nathi" (information not known) in front of the columns pertaining to PAN card, financial year for which the last income tax return has been filed and total income shown in the income tax returns of his wife rpt of his wife.

Naik said the concerned Returning Officer was duty-bound to direct the candidate to give the details which he has said "not known", failing which nomination papers should be rejected.

In an affidavit submitted along with his nomination papers filed yesterday for Vadodara Lok Sabha seat, the 63-year-old Gujarat Chief Minister stated that he is married.

So far, Modi used to leave the column of spouse which is to be filled in an affidavit, blank. He had kept the column blank in 2012 Assembly elections as well.