Manish Tewari says BJP 'super-specialises' in creating 'communal strife'

Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari on Monday hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party for criticising the Prime Minister and Congress leadership’s visit to violence-hit Muzaffarnagar, and said that the opposition’s statement reflects their ‘super-specialised’ instinct to create communal strife in the country.

“I am surprised that the Bharatiya Janata Party is taking umbrage to the visit by the Prime Minister, the President of the Congress and the Vice President of the Congress Party. I think the Bharatiya Janata Party would be well served to try and emulate this gesture of empathy,” Tewari said. ”The role of the Bharatiya Janata Party over all these years has been one which they have specialised, or rather super-specialised, in creating communal strife, across the length and breadth of this country,” he added.

Tewari used the opportunity to laud the Congress-led UPA government, and said that the Centre has always attempted to play a constructive role at times of crisis. “This is what really distinguishes the UPA leadership from the leadership of what is allegedly called the principal opposition party, in terms of the fact that we have always tried to play a role which is constructive, we have always tried to play a role which is constructive between various communities,” Tewari said

“It has been a Congress tradition, it has been a UPA tradition, to reach out to people who are in anguish and who are in misery across the length and breadth of the country. Wherever any such unfortunate incident has taken place, the UPA has always walked the extra mile,” he added

Earlier today, BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi dubbed Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi’s visit to riot-hit Muzaffarnagar as extremely unfortunate. Trivedi said: “I am saying unfortunate. The reason being it has come very late and without any effective action. When everybody was watching that the Samajwadi Party Government of Uttar Pradesh has totally failed on the constitutional, administrative and political aspect. And, all political parties cutting the across party lines, have asked for the dismissal of the government and imposition of the President’s rule.”

“But this Congress Government, forget about the imposition of President’s rule. They not even done a single thing to intervene in the government, they have not issued any warning to the government, and even, they have not taken pains to issue any advisory to the government,” he added.

The Prime Minister, who visited the clashes-affected areas of Bassi Kalan, Taawli and Barvala earlier in the day, said the perpetrators of Muzaffarnagar violence will be given strict punishment. Dr Singh also assured the Centre’s full support to the Akhilesh Yadav-led Uttar Pradesh Government in tackling the situation arising out of the Muzaffarnagar violence. “I, Soniaji and Rahul Gandhi have come here to join you in your pain and sorrow and to make an assessment of the incident.

This is a very tragic incident, and whoever is responsible for this, must be duly punished. It is the duty of the government to safeguard life and property so that people can once again settle in their homes,” Dr. Singh told media at Bassi Kalan. “The Centre will fully support the UP Government. And, in addition, our efforts will be to ensure that strict action is taken against all those responsible for the riot,” he added. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, who accompanied the Prime Minister on his visit, interacted with a number of victims and consoled them.

Minister of State for Home RPN Singh and Uttar Pradesh Governor BL Joshi were also present. The Prime Minister had earlier talked to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and condemned the violence. The Uttar Pradesh Government has constituted a one-member judicial commission to probe the Muzaffarnagar violence, which has claimed over 40 lives. The commission, which would mainly look into administrative lapses, if any, in controlling the violence, would submit its report to the government within two months.

Violence broke out in the Kawal area of Muzaffarnagar earlier this month when members of a community returning from a panchayat meeting in Naglabadhod, three kilometres from Kawal, clashed with members of another community.