The row over Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed's comments linking genesis of Indian Mujahideen to Gujarat riots continued today with BJP accusing the ruling party of using terror to garner votes and questioned if Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh endorsed these views.
Ahmed, who met Congress President Sonia Gandhi this morning to explain his position on the comments, got backing from Minority Affairs Minister Rehman Khan and Congress leader Digvijay Singh.
With his party distancing itself from his comments yesterday, Ahmed today accused BJP of diverting the nation's attention from NIA's "observations" on the birth of IM terror outfit.
"By dramatised hue & cry, BJP spokespersons are trying to make it my statement simply to divert the nation's attention from NIA's observations," he wrote on Twitter.
Slamming Ahmed's comments, BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain told reporters here that "the Congress wants to muster votes even in the name of terrorism... Congress leaders are eulogising terrorism."
Hussain's colleague Rajiv Pratap Rudy said the Congress was trying to "legitimise" Indian Mujahideen and terrorism.
"At a time when the country is fighting terrorism, Congress is trying to support terrorism," he said.
"We will like to have comment from Rahul Gandhi or the Prime Minister as to whether they support the views of Shakeel Ahmed," he said.
While the attack continued, Ahmed got support from the Minority Affairs Minister who said there is anger among Muslims over Gujarat riots.
"Suffering has taken place. There is anger among Muslims. Anger is prevalent. It is obvious," Rehman Khan said, adding Muslims are largely victims of riots and linked to terrorism by default.
Digvijay Singh said Ahmed is an "experienced" leader and "he must have made the comments after proper thought."
Ahmed had kicked up a controversy by writing on Twitter on Sunday that "Indian Mujahideen (IM) was formed after the Gujarat riots, says NIA in its charge sheet.
