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It was Sushma’s personal view: BJP

NEW DELHI: The BJP on Wednesday distanced itself from the views of its senior leader Sushma Swaraj that the Ahmedabad and Bangalore blasts were the result of a “conspiracy” by the Centre “to consolidate” Muslim votes.

Ms. Swaraj herself ‘clarified” on Wednesday that what she said was her personal view and in no way reflected the views of the BJP or the National Democratic Alliance. Party spokesperson Prakash Javadekar also said it was indeed her “personal” view.

The clarification has come after leaders of NDA constituents — Prabhunath Singh (Janata Dal–United), Anant Geete (Shiv Sena) and S.S. Dhindsa (Akali Dal) — completely disassociated their parties from Ms. Swaraj’s allegation that since the blasts occurred within four days of the trust vote in the Lok Sabha, there was “circumstantial evidence” of a conspiracy by the Centre.

On July 28, she said: “It [the blasts] is a conspiracy to divert attention from the cash-for-votes scandal and to bring back the Muslims who had gone away because of the pro-American nuclear deal.” She described the timing of the blasts as “circumstantial evidence.” Asked whether she was pointing at the Centre, she said: “Let the Centre understand what I said…. I stand by what I have said.”

For two days, the BJP was silent. In the meantime at least two leaders — BJP general secretary Vinay Katiyar and vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi — virtually reiterated the views expressed by Ms. Swaraj.

On Wednesday, Mr. Javadekar said Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Leader of the Opposition L.K. Advani had described the terrorist attacks as an attack against the nation. Asked whether the BJP was speaking in two voices, he said: “We do not speak in two voices.”

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