An ‘emotive’ blog by BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on 2002 Gujarat riots cases have evoked mixed reaction from the political class.
While the BJP defended its leader saying a sensitive heart will understand Modi’s pain, the Congress dismissed the blog as a drama. BJP’s former ally, the Janata Dal (United), accused Modi of shredding crocodile tears.
“Any sensitive heart will understand pain which Modi went through for 12 years. He is now vindicated,” BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar said. He also asked the Congress to apologise to Modi for carrying out ‘a sustained vilification and hate campaign’ for more than a decade on the basis of complete falsehood.
The Congress, however, hit out at Modi saying he has not apologised for the riots. “Even after 12 years, he has only regretted and not apologised. It is all drama. We have seen many such dramas (in the past),” Congress spokesman Meem Afzal said.
While Samajwadi Party leader Kamal Farooqi said Modi’s language reflected no remorse and was purely political, Janata Dal (United)
leader KC Tyagi said, “Ye magarmach ke aansu hain, jo naqli hote hain (these are crocodile tears).”