The Congress today made a scathing attack on the BJP and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, accusing them of ‘‘playing politics over dead bodies and tragedy’’.

‘‘What was the reason or necessity for Modi’s Mumbai rally, if not a dangerous and divisive bid to gain political mileage?’’ party spokesperson Jayanti Natrajan asked. ‘‘One party and one man started the ugly business of trying to reap political benefit out of grief, sorrow and suffering. Just like he did in Gujarat, where Modi came to power by shamelessly exploiting the dead bodies and the Godhra tragedy, he is now trying to ignite communal passions so that his party can gain some benefit in the forthcoming Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections,’’ she said.

Reacting to Modi’s accusation of inaction against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Natarajan wondered whether Modi expected Singh and the Maharashtra government to launch a ‘‘vile genocide’’ like he did in Gujarat after the Godhra incident. Natarajan said the BJP was using an hour of national tragedy to get itself ‘‘out of deterioration and oblivion’’.