BJP and ISI rejoice on communal clashes: Shakeel Ahmed

NEW DELHI: Engaging in a war of words over the issue of riots, Congress today alleged that BJP rejoices when there are communal clashes, a charge the latter countered by raking up the killing of Sikhs in 1984 and Pandits in Kashmir.

"Whenever there are riots in this country, two types of people rejoice - the ISI in Pakistan and the BJP in India," Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed told reporters.

Riots lead to polarisation in society, a situation in which BJP benefits in terms of votes, he said.

Pakistan's ISI gets more funding from "40-42" Islamic countries in the name of protecting Muslims in India when riots take place, he claimed.

Ahmed maintained that there is, however, a difference between Gujarat riots of 2002 and other riots in India.

"Perhaps, this is why we are discussing the issue of Gujarat because in this case on whom there was responsibility (of stopping the riots), he monitored and presided over it," he said.

He also rejected the comparison between Gujarat riots and anti-Sikh riots of 1984, saying even before Indira Gandhi's body was cremated, Rajiv Gandhi was out in the streets of Delhi to try and control the riots.

"Rajiv Gandhi was roaming on the streets even when his mother's body was lying at home after the assassination. Please do not compare 1984 riots with Gujarat riots," he said.

Congress and BJP have been sparring over the post-Godhra riots in Gujarat and the Muzaffarnagar clashes in the past few weeks. Ahmed's charge today sparked a sharp reaction from BJP.

"During 1984 anti-Sikh riots and massacre, the BJP protested & the Congress 'rejoiced' (?)! Any reconsideration now? In the Valley's ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Pandits the ISI 'rejoiced', the BJP protested and the Congress was helpless," BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman tweeted.