Rahul Gandhi making baseless charges: BJP

NEW DELHI: In a sharp reaction to Rahul Gandhi's charge that it is responsible for fanning riots, BJP today said he should first clarify who had supported the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and alleged the Congress leader is making baseless charges to divert attention from graft and scams.

Responding to Gandhi's allegation that BJP is behind the recent Muzaffarnagar communal violence and other riots in the past, BJP spokesperson Sudanshu Trivedi said "if political parties are responsible for riots, then what does Congress have to say about the 1984 riots in which all those killed belonged to a particular religion?"

He recalled that when anti-Sikh riots had taken place after Indira Gandhi's assassination, then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had said when a big tree falls the earth shakes.

"Who is responsible for the riots in Mumbai (1993), Bhiwandi (1985), Meerut (1987), Moradabad (1980) and Surat (1969)? More people had died in these riots and there were charges that the police acted in a partisan manner. What does Gandhi have to say about them?" Trivedi said.

He alleged the Congress Vice President has raised these issues to divert attention from the current core issues of price rise, corruption and malgovernance.

"The charges he has made against BJP are baseless, misleading and condemnable," Trivedi said.

The party alleged Rahul Gandhi "is confused about the facts relating to issues he is raising and is, therefore, making charges which have no truth in them".

Trivedi said "this confusion puts a question mark on Gandhi's credibility".

"On the Land Acquisition Bill, he had said BJP had opposed it in Parliament when actually the minister who moved the legislation had thanked Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj in Parliament for supporting the Bill," Trivedi said.

Taking a dig at Gandhi for often making remarks which allegedly show UPA government in a poor light, the BJP leader said the words he uses against the government raises doubts about whether he is from the ruling party or the opposition.

Trivedi said UPA government had promised to control price rise within 100 days of coming to power but today the price of onion is nearing Rs 100 per kg.