Post-Godhra riots were 'unfortunate': BJP

Jammu, July 13: Terming the post-Godhra riots in Gujarat as "unfortunate", BJP today said the Narendra Modi government had taken "strong" steps to deal with the situation due to which such incidents have not recurred in the state.

"As far as Modi is concerned, we consider the Godhra incident unfortunate and what followed afterwards in reaction to it--we consider that also as unfortunate," BJP national general secretary Murlidhar Rao told reporters here.

"Whatever steps his administration has taken, he took those steps sternly and strongly. It was due to these steps, that no such incidents took place in Gujarat in future", Rao said. Rao was replying to a volley of questions on Modi's statement and reaction over the issue.

The BJP leader claimed that the state government does not discriminate against the minority community. "The benefits of development are reaped by everybody there," he said. Replying to question over Congress' demand for Modi's apology, he said the party has no "moral authority".

"Cong has no authority to ask for apology from BJP or any of its leaders. They do not have moral authority to do so. The list is very long (of the corruption and other cases against them)." He said the party should focus on tackling activities in the country. "They should see how to tackle them...we do not play vote bank politics over it --they should desist from it," Rao added.

PTI