A war of words broke out between Congress and BJP on Tuesday over reports that Lashkar-e-Toiba operatives had met persons in riot-hit Muzaffarnagar, with the ruling party claiming that Rahul Gandhi had been vindicated.
BJP on the other hand accused Congress of giving communal colour to a national security issue.
Hitting out at BJP for its politics of "polarisation and communalism", Congress said that the new development had proved right Rahul's comments made at a public rally in October last that Pakistan's ISI was working to lure the riot-hit.
"Pakistan's ISI and India's BJP rejoice whenever there is communal trouble in India. ISI wants money from Muslims countries in the name of helping Muslims here. So they earn money. Whenever there is communal disturbance, BJP gets vote," Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed said.
Union minister Manish Tewari said, "Those who believe in the politics of polarisation, who believe in the politics of communalism should become cognizant of the damage which they do to the idea of India".
BJP demanded a thorough probe in the matter and accused Congress as well as Samajwadi Party, which rules UP, of doing "religion-based politics".
"The home minister for the first time in the history of India has come out with the names of victims on the basis of their religion. It clearly shows the Centre and state governments are trying to do religion-based politics," party spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said.
This is a serious issue which concerns national security and an attempt is being made to give communal colour to this, he said.
BJP President Rajnath Singh said the whole issue should be thoroughly probed with all the seriousness the matter deserves.
Rahul's remarks had drawn flak from several quarters, with BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi demanding he should apologise for making such remarks against Muslim youths.
RSS also weighed in on the issue, accusing Centre of being "miserable failure" in containing cross-border terrorism. Its spokesperson Ram Madhav on Tuesday said it was shocking that a Pakistan-based terror outfit could have a free access in India.
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