BJP brought permanent peace, taught rioters a lesson in 2002, says Shah; Cong, TMC see red

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, on Friday, claimed that anti-social elements used to indulge in violence in Gujarat as the Congress supported them, but the BJP “taught them a lesson” in 2002 and established "permanent peace" in the state. His remarks drew sharp reactions from the Congress and the TMC.

Parts of Gujarat had witnessed large-scale violence in 2002 following the Godhra train burning incident in February of that year.

The home minister, who was addressing a rally in Kheda district of Gujarat in support of the BJP candidates ahead of the next month's assembly elections, said, "During the Congress rule in Gujarat (before 1995), communal riots were rampant. Congress used to incite people of different communities and castes to fight against each other. Through such riots, Congress had strengthened its vote bank and did injustice to a large section of the society."

He claimed that Gujarat witnessed riots in 2002 because perpetrators became habitual of indulging in violence due to the prolonged support they received from the Congress. "But after they were taught a lesson in 2002, these elements left that path (of violence). They refrained from indulging in violence from 2002 till 2022. BJP has established permanent peace in Gujarat by taking strict action against those who used to indulge in communal violence."

Reacting sharply to Shah's claims, Congress spokesperson Dr. Shama Mohamed said fanning communal flames and polarising states for electoral gains have been the BJP's modus operandi for decades now.

"Home Minister @AmitShah terms the BJP govt's reaction to the 2002 riots as 'teaching a lesson'. Fanning communal flames & then polarising states for electoral gains has been BJP's modus operandi for decades now. This is Modi-Shah's real Gujarat model," she said in a tweet.

TMC MP Mahua Moitra quoted William Shakespeare to criticize the home minister over his remarks. "They Were Taught Lesson In 2002, Permanent Peace In Gujarat": Amit Shah This is the Home Minister of India. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten his not-so- little hand," she tweeted.