By M Reyaz, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid came out in open support of Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday and launched frontal attack on the Gujarat CM and BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.
Khurshid said, “It’s interesting to see who is seeking apology on behalf of the Muslim community,” adding, “it’s high time Modi too should apologise,” referring to the Gujarat riots of 2002.
Speaking to media persons, comprising mostly from Urdu press, at his official residence in New Delhi on Saturday afternoon Khurshid took a dig at Modi’s remark in Jhansi, where he had challenged Rahul Gandhi to either name those Muzaffarnagar youths with ISI links, or if at all he was lying putting suspicion on a particular community, he should immediately apologies.
He said, “We all agree that prima facie at least Rahul Gandhi’s heart is at the right place. And a person whose heart, not prima facie but conclusively is at the wrong place is today attacking him (for expressing his concern).”
He cautioned the people from falling into the trap of the BJP, and playing by their rules.
Defending the Gandhi scion on his Indore remark that some officer told him that the Pakistani Intelligence Service ISI is trying to exploit the situations of the Muzaffarnagar riot victims to indoctrinate them, Khurshid, who in the past has served as the Minority Affairs Minister, said that he is worried at the directions in which the politics in this country is going.
He said, “Rahul Gandhi’s concern is that no vested interest should try to create a situation in which minority community is exploited or that any one is misled.” He added that although the number is very miniscule, but the fact is that some youths have been exploited in the past by those with vested interests.
Shunning all accusations of hurting the victims’ sentiments, he said that the Congress VP was, on the contrary, expressing his concerns on the fear of exploitation of youths. He was condemning riots and cautioned against any wrong doing.
When pointed out that whatever might have been his intentions, but the message that went out that after riots, minority youths would be attracted towards extremism, thus giving his stamp of approval on the suspicion with which Muslim youths are looked down upon; Khurshid refused to accept that such was his intention, adding, “If at all such a message went, that also includes the fact that he is shunning communal riots and have sympathy for the community, and is only expressing his concern.”
He emphatically said that Rahul Gandhi is “100 per cent secular,” and that no one should have any doubt on his intentions. Asked, if he condemns or agrees with the statement of the Congress VP, he said, “there is no instant coffee (system) in sensitive politics.”
Khurshid urged the media persons and the community leaders to see the remark in context and not get swayed by the opposition’s propaganda.
He made it very clear that he has not been asked to speak on Rahul Gandhi’s behalf either by him or the party, but that he wanted to make things clear based on his experiences, since he felt that misinformation is being spread by vested interest.
He explained that as person in public life, we get all sorts of information and update and we then use our acumen and objectivity and filter out facts. Khurshid, however, ducked the question when this reporter asked him if he was suggesting that the Congress number two lacked the political acumen in separating gossip or exaggeration from fact.
He expressed his surprise on the rhetoric over Rahul Gandhi’s remark, saying, “Rahul Gandhi was just being transparent in saying that some officer told him and that this should serve as ‘wake-up call’ for us (even if that might be untrue).”
Khurshid said, “Rahul Gandhi has a vision of working towards more inclusive society and advocates larger integration of communities.” He said that the political rhetoric in this country has been such that Rahul is chided for speaking honestly and from his heart.
When asked if he thinks that the government should bring the Communal violence bill in the winter session of the Parliament, he reminded that the Minority Affairs Minister has written to the PM on the issue and he is hopeful that the cabinet will take a decision at an opportune time.