NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 25: The Congress was cautious in its reaction to the sting operation conducted by a weekly that purportedly provided clinching evidence of Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s role in post-Godhra riots in Gujarat in 2002. Far from going ballistic against the CM as could be expected from an Opposition party in times of election, the Congress questioned the timing of the disclosures.

“The revelations are not new. The entire civil society knows who was behind the incident. But I am surprised about the timing. Whatever has been shown on TV should be presented to the Nanavati Commission. We are still unable to understand why karsevaks had not been given protection; there was a conspiracy in burning the train,” said BK Hari Prasad, the AICC General Secretary in charge of Gujarat.

The Congress was apparently wary of the repetition of 2002 when the party’s focus on communal riots had boomeranged, polarising the minority and the majority communities that had gone in Modi’s favour. To avoid the majority polarisation this time, the party has been focusing on Modi Government’s failure on developmental front and raising the issue of corruption. Congress leaders believed that the party could be “playing into Modi’s hands” if it harped on riots only.

Sabarkantha MP Madhusudan Mistry said everybody knew about the truth of post-Godhra riots and the latest disclosures only provided further evidence. “I don’t know what we can do about it during election time. Prima facie we think the Election Commission should debar the concerned MLAs from contesting the election.” Mistry conceded that post-Godhra riots or the disclosures about them would not be the party’s plank in the election. “It will not be an issue in the election. I feel we are not banking on it. It will, however, definitely influence impartial voters,” Mistry said.

AICC spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the disclosures were “shocking”. “Supposed protectors of Gujarat have become its predators. Modi deserves to be prosecuted for first-degree murder. They have corrupted the entire system including the executive, legislature, the prosecuting system and even some elements of judiciary with rot and decay,” said Singhvi.