I didnt make any harsh remarks, says Kiran

HYDERABAD: In his reply to the notice slapped on him by the Election Commission over religious remarks, chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has stated that he did not make any harsh remarks against any religion or caste.The Election Commission slapped a notice on the chief minister on Friday for his religious remarks at an election rally in Tirupati recently.The chief minister while addressing a public meeting as part of election campaign in Tirupati on May 11, gave a call to voters to protect the sanctity of the temple town. He said religious sanctity would exist only if voters elected the Congress.Replying to the notice, the chief minister said that he did not make any harsh remarks which would hurt the sentiments of any particular religion.In his explanation, the chief minister urged the ECI to listen to the complete speech which he delivered  at the Tirupati rally. Taking only a certain portion of the speech which was said to be objectionable was not proper, the chief minister said.He stated that in the seven-minutes speech, he spoke about the developmental activities and welfare schemes being undertaken by the government for the welfare of the people. But some YSR Congress party workers raised slogans in favour of  Jagan Mohan Reddy which vitiated the atmosphere at Tirupati. In this context, he urged the people to vote for the Congress.