"While being in opposition, we should be careful not to hurt the sentiments of people we are supporting. Though atrocities have been committed against farmers, Rahul Gandhi has no right to insult the women and poor farmers of the area by claiming on TV that they have been raped," BJP spokesperson
Syed Shahnawaz Hussain told a press conference in New Delhi. He said without carrying out proper investigations and ascertaining facts, Gandhi should not make such comments. "His statement is an effort by the Congress to make the fight directionless," Hussain alleged.
Taking a dig at Gandhi, he said the Congress leader should read out from a prepared text as he often fumbles even while participating in parliamentary debates. "He should read out from written text so that his (Congress) spokesperson does not have to defend him later."
When asked whether the incidents in Greater Noida were a perfect case for imposition of the president's rule in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP spokesperson said it cannot be expected as Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati, and also the Samajwadi Party, always help the United Progressive Alliance when it comes to the number game. "The Congress will encash the bond it has from the two parties," he alleged.
Asked whether the BJP supported the demand of Congress for an independent probe into the violence, he said a joint parliamentary team should investigate the matter to bring out the truth.
Commenting on the feedback BJP leaders have received from the residents of village Bhatta Parsaul, Hussain said while there had been incidents of atrocities, nobody has come forward with complaints of rape. "If Rahul Gandhi knows that rapes have been committed, he should ensure that a case is registered in this regard. He should not go to the media with the allegations," he said.
Hussain said if Mayawati thinks Gandhi has made a misleading statement, then she should take action against him. But at the same time he hinted that it was not possible as the "match has been fixed" between the two parties.
"Neither the Congress, nor Gandhi is serious about the plight of the farmers. If at all he is serious, has the Centre issued an advisory to the state government under Article 355," he questioned.
He said the BJP was serious about the Land Acquisition Bill with amendments and would support it in Parliament. The BJP MP also scoffed at suggestions that Rahul's stand on the UP violence was supported by party veteran L K Advani and young MP Varun Gandhi.
Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan also sought to downplay the controversy over Gandhi's remarks saying that he had referred to a 70 feet pile of ash and it should be inquired into what bones are there.
"What our demand was and continues to be is that the matter should be deeply probed and we stick to it," she said at the All India Congress Committee briefing. She maintained that Gandhi had spoken only on the basis of representations made to him.
Wondering how the facts would come except through a judicial inquiry, Natarajan said, "I do not understand the state government's hesitation in ordering inquiry." Asked whether Gandhi has proofs supporting his remarks that there were burnt bodies in the ash, and women were raped there, the Congress spokesperson said, "This is not a court."
