Congress raises Godhra issue, says Modi's Bihar visit reflects his 'double standards'

Terming BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's visit to Bihar to meet the families of those killed in the Patna serial blasts to be a 'political stunt', the Congress Party on Saturday raised the issue of post-Godhra riots, and asked whether he had ever visited the residence of former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, one of those killed during the riots across Gujarat, and consoled his wife.

Congress spokesperson Meem Afzal said there is tension wherever Modi goes.

"He thinks that some people were killed in the blasts before his rally and so he is going to see them and offer his condolences to them. But in Gujarat, thousands were killed, and one of them was a Member of Parliament Jafri Sahab. Has Modi ever gone to his residence in Ahmedabad and consoled his wife?" asked Afzal.

"So, these are his double standards, and he is going there just for his political gains. It is a fact that there is polarisation wherever he goes and it will increase," he added.

Modi consoled the family members of Raj Narain Singh, who was killed in the serial blasts in Patna on October 27, in Gaurichak, Bihar, earlier in the day. He assured them that the BJP stands behind them in this hour of grief.

BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad, who briefed the media about Modi's visit, said his party's prime ministerial candidate came to this rural and ordinary village in Patna to share the pain of Raj Narain Singh's family members.

"He went to the house of Raj Narain Babu (Raj Narain Singh) who lost his life (in the blasts). He met Raj Narain Babu's wife, mother and his three sons, two of them who work in the army, and consoled them saying the party is behind them. Moreover, on behalf of the BJP, Sushil Modiji gave a cheque of Rs. 5 lakhs to his mother," said Prasad.

"Thousands have turned up here. We have not called anybody. There is an atmosphere of harmony. There was some delay due to the fog or else Modiji would have stayed a little bit longer as he has to go several other places also," he added, while taking on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the ruling Janata Dal (United) Government in the state.

The BJP prime ministerial candidates will also be visiting five other villages in Kaimur, Gopalganj, Supaul, Begusarai and Nalanda districts of Bihar to meet families of the victims. Modi, who reached Bihar last night, has now left for Kaimur.

However, due to dense fog, his visit was delayed.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made for Modi's visit to Bihar.

Over 1,000 Special Task Force jawans and around 100 inspector rank officers will be present at the places where Modi is scheduled to visit today.

Besides this, a huge contingent of Black Cat Commandos of the National Security Guard (NSG) is also guarding Modi.

The Intelligence Bureau (IB) has put Bihar maximum alert in view of Modi's visit.

Four people have been arrested in the case so far, while several others have been detained.