EC seeks info on Sonia's remark

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today told the Election Commission that at no point did he justify the encounter killing of Sohrabuddin and the controversy over his election speech was based on "unverified and false media reports".

In his reply to the commission's notice, he said, "At no stage I have controverted the affidavit filed by the Gujarat government in the Supreme Court of India. I have already clarified my position that I do not support fake encounters".

Observing that his speech has to be read in its entirety, he said it was a political response to Congress President Sonia Gandhi referring him as those who rule the Gujarat as "mout ke saudagar".

The commission has also sought details of Congress President Sonia Gandhi's "merchants of death" remarks at a rally in the state. Meanwhile, rejecting Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal's comment yesterday, the Congress said Gandhi's remark was aimed at Modi and no one else.