The Hindu : National : BJP: Modi never justified Sohrabuddin encounter

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Thursday, Dec 13, 2007
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BJP: Modi never justified Sohrabuddin encounter

Special Correspondent

AHMEDABAD: The BJP national spokesman, Prakash Javadekar, has denied that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi had ever tried to “justify” the Sohrabuddin or any other fake encounters in the State.

Referring to the Supreme Court’s notice to Mr. Modi for raising an issue pending in the apex court, Mr. Javadekar said his party had high regards for the judicial integrity and Mr. Modi would give reply to its notice within the stipulated time of four weeks. But he pointed out that Mr. Modi’s reference to the Sohrabuddin fake encounter case was only a “political response” to Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s allegations against him as a “merchant of death.”

He said if Ms. Gandhi had not called Mr. Modi by such names, the Chief Minister had no reason to make political comments and the matter would not have gone to the Supreme Court.

Mr. Modi was only urging for strong steps to combat terrorism and it was a legitimate political debate. The BJP, he said, would like to have specific parameters for such a political debate and there should not be any judicial review of the political debate between Mr. Modi and Ms. Gandhi.

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