Parikkar's remark on Gujarat riots exposed Modi: Congress

New Delhi, June 21: The

found an opportunity in Goa Chif Minister

's recent statement that the 2002 Gujarat

reflected administrative failure to sharpen its attack on Gujarat Chief Minister

.

[Read: 'Gujarat riots administrative failure but Modi was new']

The party on Thursday said Parikkar's comment exposed Modi's claim about good governance and that he did not control the riots as the administrative head of the state.

Parikkar made the remarks during an interview to the Editor-in-Chief of The Indian Express Sekhar Gupta for NDTV's Walk the Talk programme. He although shielded Modi by saying that he was new at the helm at the time of the riots and could have a loose grip on the administration.

The Congress invoked the 'Raj Dharma' comment made by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Modi after the riots to suggest that Parikkar only reitrated what it has been saying throughout.

Congress general secretary Ajay Maken, who recently quit the central ministry to focus on the party's organisational work, said the Congress has been saying about what Parikkar recntly said since the riots took place. He said although it is a late realisation for other BJP chief ministers, but it is always better to be late than never.

Meanwhile, the JD(U), which recently terminated its 17-year-old alliance with the BJP over the elevation of Modi as the party's campaign chief for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, also lashed out at Modi on the matter. Party chief Sharad Yadav said Parikkar was right and that a CM, if willing, could put an end to the bloodbath in half a day.

Congress spokesperson P C Chacko said there was no scope to question Parikkar's remarks and said they proved to be a severe blow to Modi's claim about good governance and decision-making.

He also said that Parikkar's viwpoints and senior BJP leader L K Advani's remark that Modi inherited an economically healthy state should be read together to understand Modi's claims about good governance and economic development. He said the Gujarat CM's claims were now being questioned by the BJP itself.

The BJP, however, downplayed Parikkar's viewpoints. Senior leader Venkaiah naidu said 11 years after the riots, it is time to look forward and the 2014 Lok Sabha elections are more important at the moment than the 2002 riots.

OneIndia News