Amit Shah's remark on Gujarat riots did not violate code of conduct, says EC

Election Commission sources said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remark that perpetrators of violence were "taught a lesson" in 2002 was not violative of the model code of conduct. He was speaking at a rally in Gujarat.

The poll panel concluded that Shah was referring to taking action against anti-social elements and it was not violative.

A former bureaucrat approached the EC over the statement made by Shah in Mahudha town of Kheda district last month. He said: "During the Congress rule in Gujarat (before 1995), communal riots were rampant. Congress used to incite people of different communities and castes to fight against each other. Through such riots, Congress strengthened its vote bank and did injustice to a large section of the society."

He also claimed that the 2002 riots happened because the perpetrators were used to indulging in violence due to the prolonged support they received from Congress. He added that these people left the path of violence after they were taught a lesson. "BJP has established permanent peace in Gujarat by taking strict action against those who used to indulge in communal violence," said the union minister.

Several Opposition parties slammed the remark. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said Shah is "drunk on power." Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury called the comments "reprehensible." He added that the government's job is to uphold people's Constitutional rights and the rule of law not "teach lessons'' through "genocidal campaigns of gruesome violence."