Shakeel Ahmed 'surprised' at BJP's attack on IM remarks

Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed has expressed surprise at the "hype" over his remarks that the 2002 Gujarat riots led to the formation of terror outfit Indian Mujahideen (IM).

Ahmed's remarks on Twitter had led to widespread condemnation from the BJP.

"Surprised by the hype in media on my tweet of 21st July regarding NIA's (National Investigation Agency) charge-sheet," he said in a fresh tweet Tuesday, adding that his observations had already been reported in the media.

"By dramatised hue & cry BJP spokespersons are trying to make it my statement simply to divert the nation's attention from NIA's observations," he said.

The Congress had Monday sought to distance itself from Ahmed's remarks. "It is not the party line as of now," Congress spokesperson Renuka Chowdhary told reporters. Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh had, however, supported Ahmed.