Labeling Narendra Modi 'Mr Death' after his remarks justifying the Sohrabuddin fake encounter, the Congress on Wednesday stepped up pressure on the controversial Gujarat Chief Minister, asking the courts and the Election Commission to take suo-motu cognisance of his election speech.
The party also said that it will take appropriate action against him if it comes to power in the state.
"There are no two views that if we come to power, we will take appropriate action (against Modi)," said Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi.
Alleging that for the first time in global political history, a sitting Constitutional authority has admitted to 'cold blooded murder', he said the phrase 'merchant of death', used by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, was too mild to describe Modi.
"Is this not Mr Death himself speaking? This is a clear admission of guilt. Here is a pre-planned, deliberate, designed, cold blooded murder," Singhvi said.
He said the courts should take suo-motu cognisance of the admission made from a public forum and should convict him for cold-blooded murder. Singhvi also queried whether Modi's next admission would have something to do with the disappearance of Sohrabuddin's wife Kauser Bi.
"This gentleman has conducted clear and gross contempt of the courts up to the apex court where several cases pertaining to the Sohrabuddin issue are pending," he said.
Singhvi also called upon the courts to expedite and conclude the trial of the Sohrabuddin cases.
He said the Election Commission must immediately take suo-motu cognisance of Modi's speech as "it is meant to affect the on-going electoral process in the state".
Asked if the Congress would approach the courts or the EC, Singhvi said the party reserved the right to do so.
"What should the people of Gujarat do with a Chief Minister who has no regard for the law? What should the people of Gujarat do with a Chief Minister who, because he assumes someone to be guilty, decided to liquidate him without trial, without the process of law and without court proceedings," he said, taking off on Modi's own style in Tuesday's speech.
"What indeed should the people of Gujarat do with a Chief Minister who is a law unto himself, who obeys no law and regards no law as he is a lawless dictator," he further said.
Singhvi said that such a Chief Minister should be 'constitutionally liquidated', ejected and evicted from the post as he does not deserve to hold it for one more day.
With six days to go for the first phase of assembly elections in Gujarat, Modi played the communal card by justifying the killing of Sohrabuddin in a police encounter, asserting that "he got what he deserved".
Addressing an election meeting at Mangrol in south Gujarat on Tuesday, Modi asked, "What should have been done to a man from whom a large number of AK-47 rifles were recovered, who was on the search list of police from four states, who attacked the police, who had relations with Pakistan and was eyeing to enter Gujarat?"
The crowd replied "mari nakho, mari nakho (kill him)" to which the Chief Minister responded, "Does my Government need to take permission of Soniaben for this?"
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