Navjot Sidhu gets EC notice for making personal remarks against PM Modi

The Election Commission of India has issued a notice to Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu for allegedly making personal remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a rally in Ahmedabad on April 17.  

The poll panel has asked the Congress to reply by 6 pm tomorrow.

Sidhu had attacked PM Modi by saying him a thief. "China is building a railway line beneath the sea. US is finding life on Mars. Russia is trying to build an army of robots. And what is India doing? We are making a 'chowkidar' who is actually a 'chor' (thief). I am telling you that you are indeed a thief," Sidhu had said.

He also said those behind the Godhra incident had no right to question him or talk about patriotism.

The cricketer-turned-politician made the remarks while addressing a rally in Dholka town of Ahmedabad district.

Sidhu said those behind the Godhra incident had no right to question him or talk about patriotism.

"Tum Narendra Damodardas Modi, koi Godhra karaane wala Sardar Bhagwant Singh Sidhu ke bete ko sawal nahi kar sakta...rashtrabhakti ki baat nahi kar sakta. (You, Narendra Damodardas Modi...someone behind Godhra (incident) cannot question Sardar Bhagwant Singh Sidhu's son or talk about patriotism)," he said.

The Punjab minister was referring to the incident that occurred on the morning of 27 February 2002, in which 59 people died in a fire inside the Sabarmati Express train near the Godhra railway station. The incident triggered violence and large-scale riots across Gujarat. Modi was then the chief minister of the state.

"How can you talk about patriotism? You gave eight lakh jobs, but 25 lakh government posts are still vacant. People neither got Lord Ram nor employment," he added.

The Punjab minister was referring to the incident that occurred on the morning of 27 February 2002, in which 59 people died in a fire inside the Sabarmati Express train near the Godhra railway station. The incident triggered violence and large-scale riots across Gujarat. Modi was then the chief minister of the state.

"How can you talk about patriotism? You gave eight lakh jobs, but 25 lakh government posts are still vacant. People neither got Lord Ram nor employment," he added.

The cricketer-turned-politician made the remarks while addressing a rally in Dholka town of Ahmedabad district today.

"Tum Narendra Damodardas Modi, koi Godhra karaane wala Sardar Bhagwant Singh Sidhu ke bete ko sawal nahi kar sakta...rashtrabhakti ki baat nahi kar sakta. (You, Narendra Damodardas Modi...someone behind Godhra (incident) cannot question Sardar Bhagwant Singh Sidhu's son or talk about patriotism)," he said.

He lambasted PM Modi over the Rafale deal, unemployment and farmer issues, and also dared the PM to have a debate with him.

"China is building a railway line beneath the sea. US is finding life on Mars. Russia is trying to build an army of robots. And what is India doing? We are making a 'chowkidar' who is actually a 'chor' (thief). I am telling you that you are indeed a thief," Sidhu.