BJP, VHP slam Kiran Reddy over remarks on Mecca Masjid blast

Hyderabad, Feb 3 (PTI) BJP and VHP today stronglycondemned the reported remarks of Andhra Pradesh ChiefMinister Kiran Kumar Reddy that minority community memberswere unfairly implicated in the Mecca Masjid blast, which wasa handiwork of "Hindu militants".

"Your irresponsible statements during a programme inold city here yesterday have created confusion in the minds ofpeople" who become victims of the blast in August 2007 andlater communal violence," BJP leader Bandaru Dattatreya saidin an open letter to Kiran Reddy.

The former Union Minister said the Chief Ministershould be careful while talking on sensitive issues.

Addressing a public meeting, the CM had alleged "Hindumilitants" were trying to create communal tension in the statecapital. He had also announced that the cases filed againstMuslim youths after the masjid blast would be withdrawn and acompensation package given for their rehabilitation.

Dattatreya said the recent incident inside CherlapalliCentral Jail, where prison personnel were attacked by accusedarrested in terror and organised crime cases, showsinefficiency of the State''s Congress Government. He demanded ajudicial inquiry into the incident.

Meanwhile, VHP State Organising Secretary A KeshavaRao said Kiran Reddy should immediately withdraw his remarksand resign on moral grounds.

Terming the statements as "irresponsible", he said itwas an attempt to cover up the "failures" of the Kiran ReddyGovernment.