Amit Shah to seek review of poll panel's ban

BJP leader Amit Shah said Saturday he would urge the Election Commission (EC) to review its order banning him from holding public meetings in Uttar Pradesh for allegedly making "hate speeches" during the election campaign.

The EC Friday banned Shah and Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan from holding any public meetings or road shows in the state.

"The EC has asked me to reply by today (Saturday) evening. I will send a request to it to review its decision. I will also explain in what context that speech was given," Shah told a news channel.

"I respect the EC that is why I am not holding any rally or programme after getting the notice. I just seek time from the commission along with recording my speech so that I can give the answer in what context the statement was given. I have a valid explanation for my comment and I will send it to the commission," said Shah.

The EC has also asked the Uttar Pradesh government to lodge a FIR against Shah and Khan for making hate speeches during the election campaigns.

While Shah, a close aide of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, asked the voters to cast their ballot for revenge for the Muzaffarnagar riots, Khan said Muslims soldiers were to be credited for India's victory in the Kargil War.

The poll panel pulled up the state government for not acting with "required alacrity" against the two leaders.

Despite the EC sending notice to Khan earlier, he was still indulging in activity that violates the model code of conduct, it said.