Follow Gandhi's lead, apologize for Gujarat riots: NCP tells BJP
What's the story
The Sharad Pawar-led NCP on Wednesday sought an apology from the BJP over the two-decade-old Gujarat riots, like Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has done over the Emergency imposed by his late grandmother over four decades ago.
Terming the Emergency that was imposed by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi a mistake, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said what happened during that period was wrong.
Details
The Congress had also apologized for the anti-Sikh riots
"Now it is BJP and PM Narendra Modi's turn to accept that the Gujarat riots were wrong and apologize for it," Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik said.
"After 45 years, Gandhi has accepted that the imposition of the Emergency was a mistake. The Congress had also apologized for the anti-Sikh Delhi riots (1984)," he said, talking to reporters outside Vidhan Bhavan in South Mumbai.
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Gandhi's apology is a magnanimous gesture: Patole
Maharashtra Congress unit president Nana Patole said, "There is nothing wrong in Rahulji apologizing for an old mistake. On the other hand, it is a magnanimous gesture. Gujarat riots were a blot on humanity. Will the BJP and Modi apologize for the same?"
Reaction
Gujarat riots is a different matter: BJP
However, the BJP reacted by saying the Gujarat riots were a different issue.
Reacting to the Nationalist Congress Party and Congress leaders' remarks, Maharashtra BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhye said that the Congress imposed the Emergency without caring for the sentiments of the people.
"Gujarat riots is a different matter. The two issues (Emergency and Gujarat riots) cannot be compared," Upadhye said.