Uttar Pradesh Congress president Rita Bahuguna Joshi on Friday said party vice president Rahul Gandhi's remark on Muslim riot victims being approached by Pakistan intelligence, should be a warning to people to stay united.

"Rahul Gandhi made the statement because there is not only an international linkage to the communal violence, but also an internal hand in the riots, which India needs to save itself from,' Bahuguna said.

"He made the statement to stress on the need for communal unity within the country to take India forward. In one way, Rahul Gandhi has given a warning that international agencies will try to take advantage of communal tensions, but India needs to stand united,' Bahuguna added.

Bahuguna also used the opportunity to criticize the Sangh Parivar's role in the Muzaffarnagar riots, and reiterated that the violence was a combination of internal actors and potential external actors.