BJP reacts angrily to Rahul raking up 2002 riots issue

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Press Trust of India New Delhi
Last Updated : Mar 16 2014 | 9:05 PM IST
BJP today reacted angrily to Rahul Gandhi's remarks on Narendra Modi's alleged role in 2002 riots, accusing him of raising the "old bogey" as he has no answers to the "failures" of the Congress-led UPA government.
Responding to remarks made by Rahul to PTI in an exclusive interview, the party also said that the Congress vice president was "day-dreaming" that his party would get back to power and claimed his "bravado" will have little effect on a "demoralised" cadre.
BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said Rahul's remarks terming the SIT report that gave clean chit to Modi as "flawed" though it was accepted by the court was "shocking" and showed how the Congress party "does not respect any institution".
In his sharpest attack on Modi over the post-Godhra riots, Rahul, during his interview, dismissed BJP's contention that Modi had been given a clean chit by the Supreme Court-appointed SIT and the courts, saying such talk was "politically expedient" but "far too premature".
"As you know, the SIT report had been seriously questioned by a number of credible experts. Grave flaws have been pointed out in the functioning of the SIT. The acceptance of the flawed SIT report by the lowest court has not yet been subjected to judicial scrutiny by higher courts," he said.
BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said the 2014 election issues are rising inflation, economic downturn, growth story over, unemployment, corruption, general sense of insecurity of India.
"These are issues on which Rahul Gandhi has no answers. Therefore, he is deliberately, consciously trying to divert and raise old bogey (of 2002 Gujarat riots), when the entire record of Congress party stinks with communal card reputation," said
He said though Rahul is entitled to live in his "fairy tale land" that the UPA will come to power the third time, but knows it in the heart of his heart that the people of the country are "badly yearning" for a change.
He said the entire SIT was constituted by the Supreme Court as it picked up the personnel including the officers with impeccable integrity, "who examined, investigated, reinvestigated even Narendra Modi and came to the conclusion that allegations against him were absolutely untenable and without evidence."
Prasad said in terms of the court procedure, the court has accepted the SIT report.
"Which collusive legal advice he is talking about? If the Supreme Court accepted the SIT investigations in fairness, transparency and integrity. Either Mr Rahul Gandhi does not read or his speech writers don't do the homework," he said.
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First Published: Mar 16 2014 | 9:05 PM IST

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