BJP, SP are in "collusion" in riot politics in UP: Congress

NEW DELHI: Congress today stepped up attack on BJP and Samajwadi Party accusing them of "collusion" in replicating Gujarat pattern of riots in Uttar Pradesh saying while one is "engineering" riots, the other is "not taking action" to polarise votes ahead of next Lok Sabha elections.

The party also indicated that there may not be a let-up in its attack on SP over the issue, though Mulayam Singh Yadav's party is supporting UPA from outside.

"The Gujarat pattern is being impelemented in Uttar Pradesh by Amit Shah and Narendra Modi. Samajwadi Party, which is ruling the state, is colluding. SP and BJP both are colluding to replicate the Gujarat pattern. They have a tacit understanding.

"It is only through polarising the situation ahead of the elections that BJP hopes to gain power. There is a clear-cut pattern which emerges from Mujaffarnagar riots," AICC general secretary in-charge for Uttar Pradesh Madhusudan Mistri said.

Mistri dismissed BJP's campaign that Modi was the face of development and alleged the development talk is a "facade" behind which is the "real communal and divisive face" of Modi.

" Forget about other parties. The main player is the main opposition BJP which is orchestrating things to gain a large number of seats. They believe that only this tactic can raise their numbers from 10 to 50. They want vote without orgnization. There are all kinds of possiblities in order to polarise voters," he said when asked whether Congress fears more such incidents in the run-up to the polls.

He said all state governments should remain alert. Congress also indicated that it will make the Mujaffarnagar riots a talking point in its meetings in UP.

To a question whether Congress considers SP secular if it colluded with BJP in riot politics, Mistri said "I leave it to your judgement."