Amit Shah's Azamgarh row: BJP attempts damage control by accusing SP, BSP, Congress of creating fear in minds of people

NEW DELHI: With Amit Shah's remark on Azamgarh triggering a row, BJP today attempted damage control by saying that he meant to say that parties like SP, BSP and Congress were creating fear in the minds of people for political gains without caring for development of the region.

"There has been no development for the last 65 years in Azamgarh or any other part of the region. Congress, Samajwadi Party and BSP go to Azamgarh and sympathise with militants but do not go to martyrs' families. They do not want development but to create fear in the minds of the people for their political gains," BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi told reporters here. "This was the idea behind what Amit Shah had said," he added.

Shah, a close aide of Narendra Modi, had on Sunday said that Azamgarh is the base of terrorists as there is no fear of the state government, which is advocating their release. The statement has drawn strong criticism from Congress, SP, BSP and others.

Describing Azamgarh and entire part of eastern UP as "political very important", Trivedi said "it as one of the fertile land of the country with most talented workforce. It has given immense contribution to the freedom struggle of India." However, he said "But somehow after Independence, successive governments have ignored this area. On the contrary parties like SP, Congress have patronsied those who are having criminal background and having terrorist background. It has created a pathetic condition."