Though privately agreeable to early polls in Gujarat, the Congress today refused to bite K.P.S. Gill’s bait endorsing polls in the troubled state to rid the post-riot atmosphere of hate and insecurity.Only last week, a motley group of senior Congressmen from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra met party president Sonia Gandhi and tried to prevail upon her the ‘‘usefulness’’ of throwing the Congress headlong into Gujarat elections. Their feedback — each of 30-odd leaders had been directed by the party high-command to scour a different state district — was discussed threadbare with AICC(I) general secretary in-charge of Gujarat, Kamal Nath. Giri slams poll talk NEW DELHI: Former National Commission for Women and Guild of Service chairperson Mohini Giri on Wednesday condemned Gujarat government for its proposal to hold polls now. Giri, who visited the state on July 5, said women and children were living in deplorable conditions in relief camps. ‘‘Instead of concentrating on rehabilitation, K.P.S. Gill is saying polls should be held.’’ (UNI) But when it came to taking a public stand on the issue that still generates as much heat as it did three months ago, the Congress decided to play it safe. The party now says it’s for the Election Commission and not for Gill, who is Chief Security Advisor to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, or any government functionary to talk about Gujarat elections.Lambasting Gill for his ‘‘irresponsible, ill-timed’’ statement, Congress spokes-person Anand Sharma said it went ‘‘beyond his jurisdiction’’. Gill’s utterances also showed things were not normal in Gujarat, said Sharma.
