|
New Delhi:
Congress ministers Thursday slammed Gujarat Chief Minister
Narendra Modi for his remark "Hang me if I am guilty" with
reference to the 2002 riots in the state, terming it "highly
reprehensible and irresponsible".
In an interview to Urdu weekly Nai Duniya, Modi said "Hang me if I
am guilty ('Main gunehgaar hoon toh mujhe phaansi par latkaa do')"
on the Gujarat riots.
Modi, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, has been accused of
giving tacit support to the riots in which more than 1,000 Muslims
were killed following the Feb 27, 2002, Godhra train burning
incident in which 57 'kar sewaks' returning from Ayodhya were
burnt alive.
Union Corporate Affairs Minister M. Veerappa Moily, reacting to
Modi's remark, said it was for the judiciary to decide on the
guilty and take appropriate steps to punish them.
Asked if Modi's remark was aimed at appeasing the minorities,
Moily said: "I don't know whether it is to appease minorities. But
I think it is highly reprehensible and irresponsible".
Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid, taking a dig at Modi, said if
the Gujarat chief minister was aiming to change his image with
such a remark, it would be better to change his behaviour and role
instead.
Khurshid told reporters: "I don't think we believe in kangaroo
justice. Whatever the law is in the country will prevail. The
courts will decide. The agencies that are working for the courts
will have to decide, place the material before the court, and the
court will take a decision."
"I don't think that we either in the streets can decide or that
Modi can take a decision by himself," he said.
"We all have faith in the courts of the land and we will wait for
the courts to say what they believe is the right thing to do," he
said.
Asked if Modi's remark was aimed at a pro-minority image, Khurshid
said: "If he wants to improve his image, let him. But I feel he
should change his behaviour and his role (kirdar). That will be
the best. Changing image will not help."
Modi's interview in Nai Duniya was conducted by Shahid Siddiqui, a
former Rajya Sabha member from the Samajwadi Party.
The interview dealt with the post-Godhra riots, the state of
Muslims in Gujarat and other sensitive issues.
|
Comments
|
Quick links