New Delhi: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's remarks that the Muslims did not
strongly condemn the Godhra carnage came under severe attack from the Opposition,
which accused him of attempting to raise "divisive issues" and toeing the Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) line on Gujarat violence.
"In spite of the fact that Godhra came in for strong condemnation cutting across
party, religious and sectarian lines, no less a person than the Prime Minister is
attempting to raise divisive issues," Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told
reporters.
Deprecating the Prime Minister's statement, he said it was strange to ask for
repentance by entire community for criminal acts of individuals.
He also took exception to Vajpayee's "stoic silence" over the provocative remarks of
VHP leader Pravin Togadia and others.
The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) polit bureau in a statement said the
Prime Minister was "echoing the RSS-VHP line on the Gujarat violence".
It said such a stance was equivalent to condemning the entire community for a crime
committed by a few and will be seen as justification for the "mass killings" of
minorities in the state.
"Does the Prime Minister seriously believe that condemnation alone (which actually
did take place) would have restrained the VHP-Bajrang Dal mobs from resorting to the
carnage that took place?" it asked.
PTI
