EC issues notice to Udhayanidhi Stalin over comments on Jaitley, Sushma death

Election Commission has sought an explanation from DMK leader Udayanithi Stalin over his statement on Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj. Udhayanidhi Stalin had triggered a controversy earlier this month, alleging that former Union ministers Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley died due to "torture" and "pressure" exerted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Chennai:The Election Commission has issued a notice to DMK leader Udayanithi Stalin over his statement on Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj. He has been asked to explain his statement by 5 pm today.

Earlier on April 1, Udhayanidhi Stalin had triggered a controversy with his comments alleging that former Union ministers Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley died due to "torture" and "pressure" exerted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Tamil Nadu unit of the BJP has lodged a formal complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer to disqualify Udhayanidhi Stalin from contesting the polls.

Attacking PM Modi, Udhayanidhi had said, "There was a person called Sushma Swaraj. She died due to the pressure exerted by Modi. There was a person called Arun Jaitley. He died due to the torture by Modi."

Besides this, the DMK leader further alleged that the Prime Minister had "sidelined" senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders like Venkaiah Naidu.

Udhayanidhi had made the comment at a public programme in Dharapuram on March 31. He was responding to a comment by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Dharapuram a day earlier that the young leader of the DMK had reached the top post in the party sidelining many leaders.