India TV issues clarification on Amit Shah's statement

India TV on Sunday issued a clarification stating that BJP president Amit Shah had clearly told the channel that his party never tries to win elections by taking recourse to communal tensions.

It quoted Amit Shah as having said in Rajat Sharma's "Aap Ki Adalat" programme that BJP garners votes on the basis of its policies and programmes.

The clarification follows media reports based on a press release issued by the channel in which it quoted Amit Shah as having said if communal tension continues in Uttar Pradesh, BJP will form the next government in the state.

Shah also said Assembly elections are due in Maharashtra and Haryana but there is no communal tension in these states. On the other hand, in UP there is communal tension because the Samajwadi Party (SP) is adopting one-sided approach, he said.

If BJP comes to power in UP, it will be because of wrong policies of SP, the party president said.