Congress remains firm on merchants of deaths remark

The Congress party on Monday backed its President Sonia Gandhi on the merchants of deaths remark, and said that partys stand on the issue remains same since it was not directed at any particular person.

New Delhi, Dec 10 : The Congress party on Monday backed its President Sonia Gandhi on the 'merchants of deaths" remark, and said that party's stand on the issue remains same since it was not directed at any particular person.

"What the party and Sonia Gandhi have said is identical. There is absolutely no change in the statement. Nothing has changed, the stand of the party remains the same in the matter and there is no need for further clarifications," Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said.

He added that the party would be replying to the notice issued by the Election Commission in a comprehensive manner within the given timeframe.

Few Congress leaders have also reportedly expressed their disappointment over the notice issued against the Congress president. They said that by issuing the notice to Sonia Gandhi, the Election Commission has equated Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's remark of justifying the fake encounter of Sohrabuddin Sheikh's with the 'merchants of deaths' remark.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court today postponed the hearing of petitions against Modi's remarks on Sheikh Case to Wednesday.

The petitions were filed by senior counsel Dushyant Dave on behalf of Rubbabuddin Sheikh, the brother of Sohrabuddin Sheikh and by Prashant Bhushan, who appeared for Javed Akhtar.

Both sought an inquiry into Modi's justification for the November 2005 fake encounter in which Sohrabuddin Sheikh was eliminated.

The Election Commission (EC) has also deferred its decision on Modi's reply to the notice sent by it on December 6.

ANI