'Cold Blooded Murder'

'The Chief Minister by his remarks clearly indicated that he had initiated and endorsed the killing perpetrated by the police... brazen acknowledgment and justification for the government itself violating due process of law...'

Rajinder Puri

Updated on: 5 December 2007 12:00 am

Full text of the letter to the President of India

Smt Pratibha Patil
President of India
Rashtrapati Bhawan
New Delhi – 110001

Madam President,

I respectfully draw your kind attention to a matter of grave nationalimportance that requires your urgent intervention. Addressing an election rallyin Gujarat on December 4, 2007 Chief Minister Narendra Modi reportedly said:"Congress in Gujarat is raising its voice on the Sohrabuddin issue. But itshould explain to the people what should be done to a man who stored illegalarms and ammunition. You tell me what should have been done to Sohrabuddin?"

Voices in the crowd reportedly shouted: "Kill him, kill him!"

Modi reportedly said: "Well, that is it. Do I have to take SoniaGandhi’s permission to do this? Hang me if I have done anything wrong."

It might be recalled that Sohrabuddin was killed by the police, allegedly in a fakeencounter. The Chief Minister by his remarks clearly indicated that he hadinitiated and endorsed the killing perpetrated by the police.

Madam President, this goes far beyond the license ordinarily permitted inelection campaign speeches. These remarks amount to brazen acknowledgment andjustification for the government itself violating due process of law even ifthat entails cold blooded murder.

What lessons would citizens draw if such official conduct is allowedunchecked? If the government itself sanctions deliberate violation of law andmurder as instruments of state policy, on what grounds should citizens condemnjihaadi and ideological terrorists who justify violence by invoking their ownvision of creating a different India?

Madam President, the solemn oath you undertook on assuming office enjoinedupon you to the best of your ability to "preserve, protect and defend theConstitution and law".

Article 78 (b) of the Constitution directs the Prime Minister to"furnish such information relating to the administration of the affairs ofthe Union and proposals for legislation as the President may call for."

I humbly submit that it is your responsibility to exercise the discretionthat devolves upon your office under the above portions of the Constitution tointervene in this matter and direct the union government to take appropriatesteps to ensure that the laws of the land are upheld.

Failing this, the common citizens of India will draw their own conclusionsabout how terrorism and political violence should be viewed by them.

Yours faithfully

Rajinder Puri

Copy to
Prime Minister
Dr Manmohan Singh
7 Race Course Road
New Delhi - 110001