SC should order BJP leader Giriraj's arrest: Soz

Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Saifuddin Soz Sunday demanded suo motu notice by the Supreme Court of the "brazen violation" of the model code of conduct by BJP leader Giriraj Singh who said those opposing Narendra Modi should be sent to Pakistan.

In a statement issued here, Soz said: "It is high time that the Supreme Court takes suo motu notice of the blatant and brazen violation of the election code of the conduct by BJP leader Giriraj Singh, who is contesting from Nawada Lok Sabha seat in Bihar."

"This man has the temerity to say that those opposing Modi won't have a place in India and they have to go to Pakistan."

Soz said the Election Commission "has already shown weakness" by allowing Modi's aide Amit Shah to resume his campaign in Uttar Pradesh, "forgiving his extremely condemnable hate speech".

"Thus, the Election Commission has itself allowed open promotion of sectarian and communal politics," he said.

Soz contended that Giriraj Singh "would not have felt bold" to repeat his statement if Amit Shah had been debarred from resuming his campaign.

"The least that should happen is that Giriraj Singh should be arrested immediately and debarred from contesting the election," he said.

"I feel the Election Commission does not realise that the generation of hate and rapid sectarianism in which Giriraj Singh and Amit Shah have openly indulged happen to be the early rumblings of the fascist system that Modi is seeking to establish in India."