In the most direct accusation yet, the BJP on Saturday held Congress president Sonia Gandhi as the “driving force” behind the “conspiracy” to implicate the then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in the 2002 riots, and defame and destabilise his elected Government in the State.
The BJP alleged Sonia’s political advisor late Ahmed Patel and social activist Teesta Setalvad were mere pawns in her hands.
While Patel’s daughter Mumtaz Patel said the BJP’s campaign for Gujarat poll has begun “by dragging my father’s name in conspiracy theories”, the Congress said “the Prime Minister’s political vendetta machine clearly does not even spare the departed who were his political adversaries”.
Earlier in the day, demanding answers to the affidavit submitted by Gujarat’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) before the court allegedly “detailing nexus of Patel and Setalvad” and transfer of “initial” `30 lakh to the social activist to “operationilise the conspiracy against Modi”, the BJP asked Sonia to hold a press conference to clarify her stand on the issue.
“Not your social media head Jairam Ramesh but you should answer questions,” BJP’s national spokesperson Sambit Patra said, adding “Patel only delivered the money. Sonia Gandhi gave it to be handed over to Setalvad”.