"Even after the felicitation of arrested MLAs on (Narendra) Modi's dais for fanning Muzaffarnagar riots, how can one deny that BJP rejoices on riots?," Ahmed tweeted a day after his remarks virtually equating BJP and ISI evoked an angry reaction from the opposition party.
Seeking to counter Ahmed's remarks by raking up the killing of Sikhs in 1984 during Congress rule and Pandits in Kashmir, BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman had yesterday tweeted, "During 1984 anti-Sikh riots and massacre, the BJP protested & the Congress 'rejoiced' (?)! Any reconsideration now? In the Valley's ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Pandits the ISI 'rejoiced', the BJP protested and the Congress was helpless."
He said that riots lead to polarisation in society, a situation in which BJP benefits in terms of votes while Pakistan's ISI gets more funding from "40-42" Islamic countries in the name of protecting Muslims in India.
He had also rejected the comparison between Gujarat riots and anti-Sikh riots of 1984, saying even before Indira Gandhi's body was cremated, Rajiv Gandhi was out in the streets of Delhi to try and control the riots.
Congress and BJP have been sparring over the post-Godhra riots in Gujarat and the Muzaffarnagar clashes in the past few weeks.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
