BJP reacts angrily to Rahul Gandhi raking up 2002 riots issue

New Delhi: BJP on Sunday 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 Mr 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 Mr Modi over the post-Godhra riots, Rahul, during his interview, dismissed BJP's contention that Mr 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."

Mr 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.

The Congress leader has raised it for purely political purposes and "he is trying to take liberties" even with the judicial process, Mr Prasad added.

Endorsing Rahul's views, JD(U) attacked Mr Modi saying he was neither apologising nor acknowledging the 2002 Gujarat communal riots.

JD(U) general secretary Ajay Alok said Gandhi has apologised for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots like Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

"But here is a Prime Ministerial candidate who is not apologising or even acknowledging the 2002 Gujarat riots," Alok said without naming Mr Modi.

As far as UPA goes, he said, Mr Gandhi has all the right to say that UPA will come to power.

Reacting to the interview, CPI National Secretary D Raja said Mr Gandhi should speak about the performance of the UPA Government.

"There is anger against Congress across the country.... One should understand because of its anti-people policies, retrograde economic policies, Congress party has failed the nation and it has betrayed the confidence of the people so that party is on its way out," the CPI leader stated.

BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said Rahul's bravado in asserting that there will be a UPA-3 "is a failed morale booster for a demoralised force. Congress leaders and workers know the writing on the wall.

"So Rahul Gandhi may show any bravado, but it is of no use as country has already decided to throw the Congress out of power log, stock and barrel and bring a decisive mandate to the NDA led by Narendra Modi."

Mr Javadekar said people and even Muslims and every section of society have moved much ahead of 2002. "We never justify riots. We used force to quell the riots but the Congress justified the 1984 pogrom and Congress did not use force against those who perpetrated the pogrom."