Gandhi speech explanation sought

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India's election officials have sought an explanation from a ruling party leader over remarks she made during an election meeting in western Gujarat.

Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi reportedly described the opposition-ruled government in the state as "merchants of fear and death".

Gujarat, ruled by the Hindu nationalist BJP, has been criticised for the treatment of its religious minorities.

More than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, died in religious riots in 2002.

The state goes to the polls on Tuesday, and the run-up has been marked by controversial campaign speeches from both the ruling party and opposition.

Those running the Gujarat government are liars, betrayers and merchants of death Sonia Gandhi

Federal election authorities earlier demanded an explanation from Chief Minister Narendra Modi over his alleged comments at meeting on the 2005 killing of a Muslim man by police in Gujarat.

According to sections of the Indian media, at last week's meeting Mr Modi appeared to have "justified" the killing.

Over the weekend, Mr Modi denied the allegations and told the authorities that he had been misquoted by the media.

'Hindu terrorism'

His party, BJP, also demanded that the Election Commission take up remarks that Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi had made at an election meeting earlier this month.

Now, the election authorities have demanded an explanation from Ms Gandhi for telling the meeting hat "those running the Gujarat government are liars, betrayers and merchants of fear and death".

They have asked her to reply by Tuesday afternoon.

It has also sought another explanation from senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh for telling a separate election meeting that "Hindu terrorism" existed in Gujarat.

Congress party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi denied that Ms Gandhi had violated the election code of conduct with her remarks in Gujarat.

The police said Mr Sheikh was planning to kill Mr Modi

He said the BJP was trying to "equate" Mr Modi's remarks with those of Ms Gandhi's and this was a "desperate attempt to justify the unjustifiable".

The Election Commission has also said it was studying Mr Modi's reply in "detail" before making a decision on whether his speech violated the election code of conduct.

India's election code of conduct forbids any political party or candidate to "indulge in any activity" which creates religious tension, and prohibits places of worship to be used as "forum for election propaganda".

Earlier, Mr Modi's reported remarks at a meeting over the death of a Muslim man in 2005 whipped up a lot of controversy.

'Cover-up'

In April, three top policemen in Gujarat were charged with the murder of Sohrabuddin Sheikh, a Muslim civilian.

They are alleged to have attempted to cover up the killing by claiming he belonged to an Islamic militant group.

Mr Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government then admitted that the missing wife of Mr Sheikh, Kausar Bi, was also killed and her body was burnt.

Mr Sheikh and his wife had been travelling by bus when they were taken away by the Gujarat police in November 2005.

According to official figures, more than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed during the 2002 religious riots that broke out after nearly 60 Hindus were killed when a train was set on fire in Godhra town, allegedly by a Muslim mob.

The state administration was accused of not doing enough to stop the riots.