Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday raked up the 2002 Gujarat riots to target the Congress, saying anti-social elements earlier indulged in violence in the state as they were supported by the grand old party, PTI reported. Speaking at a Gujarat poll campaign rally in Mahudha town of Kheda district, Shah said the BJP established "permanent peace" in the state after the perpetrators of violence were "taught a lesson" in 2002.
"During the Congress rule in Gujarat (before 1995), communal riots were rampant. Congress used to incite people of different communities and castes to fight against each other. Through such riots, Congress had strengthened its vote bank and did injustice to a large section of the society," PTI quoted Amit Shah as saying.
On February 27, 2002 a coach of the Sabarmati Express carrying passengers from the Ram Janmabhoomi site in Ayodhya was set ablaze near Godhra railway station. As many as 59 Hindu devotees, including children, were charred to death. The incident triggered communal riots across Gujarat, that left at least 1,000 people dead and thousands injured.
The Home Minister claimed that the 2002 riots were a result of miscreants becoming habitual of indulging in violence due to the "prolonged support" they received from Congress.
"But after they were taught a lesson in 2002, these elements left that path (of violence). They refrained from indulging in violence from 2002 till 2022. BJP has established permanent peace in Gujarat by taking strict action against those who used to indulge in communal violence," Amit Shah said.
Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for abrogating Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, Shah alleged that the Congress was against it because of its "vote bank".