'Congress has blood on its hands': Khurshid's statement sparks row
Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid said, on Monday, that Congress had Muslim-blood on its hands. He was replying to Amir, a former student of Aligarh Muslim University at the varsity's campus. Amir asked Khurshid about his opinion on 1984 riots and Babri Masjid demolition to which the latter replied, "I'm a part of Congress so let me accept that we have blood on our hands."
At the event, Amir asked Khurshid how would he wash off stains from Congress's hands. He reminded him the 1948 amendment of AMU Act and denial of reservation to Muslim Dalits under SC/ST quota after Presidential order in 1950. He asked Khurshid to comment on anti-Muslim riots in Hashimpura, Malyana, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Bhagalpur, Moradabad, Aligarh and the Babri Masjid demolition; that happened under Congress-regime.
Answering Amir's question, Khurshid said he was ready to show 'his blood-soiled' hands. He added, "We'll show these stains, that you understand that if you attack these people, the stains will ultimately stain you." He went on, "Learn something from our history, don't create such a situation...so that when you come back to AMU after 10 years no one will ask you this question."
Reacting to Khurshid's statement, BJP MP Subramanian Swamy said, "Now it's time for the Congress to pay for its sins." Despite the controversy, Khurshid stood by his words and accused the media of sensationalizing it. He said, "I don't regret it." When asked if his views represented the party's, Khurshid said, "I'm not a representative of the Congress party, I'm the Congress party."
