Within 24 hrs, Satti gets second notice

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 17

There seems to be no end to the woes of state BJP president Satpal Satti who has been issued a second notice within 24 hours on the directions of the Election Commission of India (ECI) for violating the election model code of conduct.

The notice was issued to Satti today by Torul S Raveesh, Assistant Returning Officer for Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat, at Amb in Una. He has been asked to file his reply within 48 hours of the receipt of the notice. Satti had allegedly made derogatory remarks about both Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi at an election meeting at Bhanjal under Ghanari tehsil in Una district on April 14.

What could be even more worrisome for Satti is the fact that the notice has been issued on the observation made by the video surveillance team of the election department, which has captured his speech on video. As such the notice is not based on a video clip provided by the Congress or any other political party or organisation. He has been furnished the video clip of the speech he made at an election meeting on April 14.

The verbatim speech given by Satti in the local dialect has been reproduced in the notice given to the BJP chief today. He made remarks about Rahul Gandhi not being suitable for PM’s post as he had failed even to get daughter-in-law for his mother. He also allegedly made objectionable remarks about Priyanka’s dressing style and how she was trying to woo voters now.

The Congress leaders, including AICC Secretary Rakesh Kalia, had taken offence to the remarks. He condemned Satti for using such derogatory language about his political opponents.

Satti is in trouble with the ECI already as he was yesterday issued a notice for allegedly using abusive language against Rahul and the Congress complaining to the ECI and registering an FIR against him in Shimla.

Video doctored: Satti

• Satti has tried to wash his hands off the issue alleging that the Congress had doctored the video clip to defame him and tarnish his image. 
• In his reply to the notice issued to him on Tuesday by Deputy Commissioner, Solan, he said he was only quoting the post made by another person to warn his party workers not to use such language.
• “The notice may kindly be withdrawn as I have not violated the model code of conduct in any way,” he urged. 
• He claimed that the video being circulated by the Congress was edited and tampered with to malign and defame him which was obvious from the cutting and deleting of the connecting speech.