The Gujarat government today washed its hands of the controversy over Narendra Modi’s speech, saying it had neither the tape or the text to send to the National Commission for Minorities. This despite the state Intelligence department asking all SPs to record speeches of BJP leaders during the Gaurav Yatra. Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Ashok Narayan said: ‘‘A news channel may have played an audiotape purported to be containing the CM’s speech but it is not mandatory for the administration to send it to the NCM.’’ A senior Home official said: ‘‘The NCM is an advisory body. The state does not have to comply with its request for the text of the CM’s Becharaji speech.’’ In Delhi, BJP general secretary Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said: ‘‘The party has not received the tape. We will see the tape first before drawing a conclusion.’’ A journalist said the telecast had proved that media reports had correctly quoted Modi while attacking Muslims. When he sought to know who, in the BJP-view, was lying, Naqvi said: ‘‘The question is not of anyone telling the truth or a lie.’’
