Cong hand stained with Muslims' blood, says Khurshid; party disagrees

A controversy erupted today over senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid's remarks that the party's hands were stained with blood, prompting the UPA major to quickly distance itself from the comment.

The party said it disagreed completely with Khurshid, and requested its leaders to refrain from making such "unfounded" statements that "help the cause" of the party in power.

Khurshid, however, defended the comments he had made on Sunday at an event in Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) in Uttar Pradesh, saying he will continue to say what he said. The former Union minister stressed he had made the remarks in response to a query as his party came under attack.

Acknowledging that communal riots and other sectarian clashes did take place during the Congress rule, Khurshid said the party's hands were stained with blood.

"It is a political question. There is blood on our hands. I am also a part of the Congress so let me say it, we have blood on our hands, said Khurshid.

The Congress leader also asserted that that was not a reason why his party should not come forward to protect Muslims in case of attacks against them.

"I am telling you. We are ready to show the blood on our hands so that you realise that you too must not get blood on your hands. If you attack them, you are the ones who would get stains on your hands," Khurshid said.

The student's question was prefaced with a list of communal conflagrations, including at Maliana and Muzaffarnagar, and various other sectarian acts like the opening of the gates of Babri Masjid, placing of idols inside it and then its demolition during the Congress government.

The Congress has Muslim blood on its hands. With what words will you wash it off?" the student had asked.

Asked by reporters here today if he would stick to his comment, Khurshid said, "Have you ever known me to withdraw a statement? What I said, I will continue to say. What I didn't say, I will never say.

Asked if he made the remarks as a member of the Congress, Khurshid replied he did so as a human being.

It's the party that has given everything that I have today. And why should I step aside when my party is attacked? I must answer anyone who attacks my party and I do it to the best of my ability, he added.

The Congress disassociated itself from the remark, saying it disagreed with Khurshid in toto. It said the remark could be Khurshid's personal view.

Speaking to reporters here, Congress spokesperson PL Punia said the Congress was the only party that worked towards building an egalitarian society by carrying all sections of the people, including SCs/STs and minorities before and after Independence era. The intrinsic values, he alleged, were under attack now.

All leaders must remember that such unfounded statements only help the cause of those in power today who seek to divide the society on caste and communal line to retain and attain power at any cost, he added.

Asked if the party would take action against Khurshid, Punia evaded a direct reply, saying he need not add to what he stated.