Complaint over Amit Shah’s ‘2002 lesson’ remark ‘under process’ in poll panel

When contacted, additional chief electoral officer of Gujarat, Kuldeep Arya, however, told The Indian Express the report was sent to the EC “two days back”.

“We had sought a report from the District Election Officer of Kheda regarding a speech carrying a reference of ‘lesson being taught in 2002’. The report, which includes a video clip, does not have anything objectionable,” Arya said.

Arya further said: “He (Shah) is directly not inciting anyone. He is saying rioters were at large and we have taught a lesson and after that no rioting has taken place in Gujarat. So no particular community has been targeted. We have sent the report two days back to ECI,” Arya said.

In his letter to the EC on November 26, a retired bureaucrat, E A S Sarma, said Shah had allegedly violated the poll code restrictions on seeking votes on communal basis. Sarma cited news reports which quoted Shah as saying a section of society had been “taught a lesson in 2002”.

“The statement, if found to be true, violates the MCC in force, especially with reference to the following clause, ‘There shall be no appeal to caste or communal feelings for securing votes’,” he added.