Two days later, Modi says he never supported encounter
Under attack over his alleged remark justifying the killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi asserted that he had never justified fake police encounters.
By TNN |
NEW DELHI: Under attack over his alleged remark justifying the killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi asserted that he had never justified fake police encounters. At a rally in Kapalvad, Mr Modi said fake police encounters “cannot be accepted”. The chief minister blamed Congress president Sonia Gandhi for forcing him to retort.
Mr Modi has been accused of justifying the killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh in a fake encounter at a rally on Tuesday. Now nearly 48 hours later, Mr Modi asserted, “I do not justify fake police encounters.”
The Gujarat chief minister said he and his government are against fake encounters and have taken a stand against it in the Supreme Court. “Fake encounters cannot be accepted. I have never justified it and I have always condemned it,” he said. He said the Supreme Court should look into the realities of Sohrabuddin case guided by facts.
Mr Modi’s alleged justification had been strongly condemned by the Congress and the Left parties and social activists, and there were demands that he be booked under a criminal case.
The Gujarat chief minister has accused Ms Gandhi of “provoking” him by calling him the “merchant of death”. He said though his poll agenda was only to raise developmental issues, he had been compelled to react. “I had kept quiet, but Sonia provoked me. I felt the need to tell Sonia the truth... I will reply to whatever issues the Congress raises and will speak in the same language they use and I have a right to defend himself,” Mr Modi said.
The Gujarat government’s special counsel in Supreme Court K T S Tulsi had threatened to resign if the chief minister did not apologise for his remarks on Sohrabuddin Sheikh. Asserting that “he was and will be a law-abiding citizen,” Mr Modi said it is his democratic duty to tell the truth to people and asserted that hostile reactions to him reeked of “pseudo secularism”.
He regretted that “hundreds of accusations” were being levelled against him. Mr Modi said he is surprised why terrorism is always linked to minorities. “If I talk of terrorism it does not mean it is linked to terrorists,” he added.
Mr Modi has been accused of justifying the killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh in a fake encounter at a rally on Tuesday. Now nearly 48 hours later, Mr Modi asserted, “I do not justify fake police encounters.”
The Gujarat chief minister said he and his government are against fake encounters and have taken a stand against it in the Supreme Court. “Fake encounters cannot be accepted. I have never justified it and I have always condemned it,” he said. He said the Supreme Court should look into the realities of Sohrabuddin case guided by facts.
Mr Modi’s alleged justification had been strongly condemned by the Congress and the Left parties and social activists, and there were demands that he be booked under a criminal case.
The Gujarat chief minister has accused Ms Gandhi of “provoking” him by calling him the “merchant of death”. He said though his poll agenda was only to raise developmental issues, he had been compelled to react. “I had kept quiet, but Sonia provoked me. I felt the need to tell Sonia the truth... I will reply to whatever issues the Congress raises and will speak in the same language they use and I have a right to defend himself,” Mr Modi said.
The Gujarat government’s special counsel in Supreme Court K T S Tulsi had threatened to resign if the chief minister did not apologise for his remarks on Sohrabuddin Sheikh. Asserting that “he was and will be a law-abiding citizen,” Mr Modi said it is his democratic duty to tell the truth to people and asserted that hostile reactions to him reeked of “pseudo secularism”.
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Mr Modi said he had not said anything harsh about Ms Gandhi during his campaign and a reference was made to her when he had to respond to her accusations. “If it is a crime to use Sonia’s name then I will stop taking her name,” he said.He regretted that “hundreds of accusations” were being levelled against him. Mr Modi said he is surprised why terrorism is always linked to minorities. “If I talk of terrorism it does not mean it is linked to terrorists,” he added.
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