Uma Bharti takes swipe at Congress over 1984 riots

SAGAR: BJP vice president Uma Bharti, who did not attend the BJP national executive conclave that elevated Narendra Modi, today said that Congress has no moral right to term the Gujarat chief minister as communal leader as the 1984 riots unfolded when it was in guard at Centre.

"The biggest communal riots took place in 1984 when the Congress was in power," she said in an apparent reference to anti-Sikh riots.

Accusing Congress of minority appeasement, Uma said that "Congress takes the side of Muslims as their sizable number in given constituencies can affect outcome of elections".

Uma did not attend the BJP national conclave held recently in Goa citing ill health, where Modi was anointed as the chief of the party's election campaign committee.

The former Madhya Pradesh chief minister said that party president Rajnath Singh would decide what role would she play in the upcoming Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh.