Katheria denies anti-minorities remark as BJP cries conspiracy

The BJP on Tuesday accused the opposition of targeting union minister Ram Shankar Katheria to deflect public attention from a VHP leader's murder in Uttar Pradesh as the minister denied making remarks against a minority community.

The Bharatiya Janata Party said that rather than targetting Katheria, the ruling Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh should have acted tough against those who murdered Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Arun Mahaur last Thursday.

"Katheria has clarified his alleged remarks but the opposition parties are still targeting him and making his remarks an issue. It's a conspiracy to target the BJP leader by diverting public attention from the crime," BJP national secretary Srikant Sharma told IANS.

He said nobody consoled Mahaur's family over his death and the culprits were roaming freely.

"Law and order in Uttar Pradesh is at its worst. The culprits are roaming freely. Rather than take action against them, the ruling party (SP) is busy politicising the minister's remarks," he said.

Katheria, minister of state in the human resource development ministry, on Tuesday said he did attend a condolence meeting after Mahaur's death but did not speak against any minority community.

"The media report is completely untrue. I would like to appeal for a compact disc and listen to (a recording of) my speech," Katheria told reporters outside parliament.