<p>In an exclusive interview to BBC Hindi Service, Gadkari said: "Some people might be involved in those riots but it would not be entirely correct to say that the riots were initiated by the government.<br /><br />"Nobody can manipulate or organise such incidents; these are unfortunate reactions of the people at large."<br /><br />Gadkari was replying to questions on the alleged involvement of the BJP and its government in the demolition of the Babri mosque and the 1992 Gujarat riots. <br /><br />"Gujarat riots were unfortunate. But when riots take place in other states, why aren't governments and chief ministers blamed for that?" the newly elected BJP president asked.<br /><br />"Why don't you corner Congress governments and their chief ministers for riots which took place in Congress-governed states, the way you are cornering Modi and the BJP? Riots took place in Mumbai in 1992 and the way Sikhs were killed in Delhi..."<br />He also said the BJP was not anti-Muslim, and shot back, "If our party were against the Muslims, why would we nominate Dr. Abdul Kalam as the president of the country?"<br /><br />Here are some excerpts from the interview:<br /><br />BBC: Can you assure the Muslim community that your party is not against them?<br /><br />Gadkari: If our party were against the Muslims, why would we nominate Dr. Abdul Kalam as the president of the country? <br /><br />BBC: Dr Abdul Kalam was surely made the President but how would your party wash the blemish of Gujarat riots? <br /><br />Gadkari: More serious riots took place in Mumbai (in 1992) but why wasn't the government (in the state) blamed? Why wasn't a Special Investigating Team set up against the then chief minister of Maharashtra?<br /><br />BBC: Do you think Muslims will forget the Gujarat riots and the demolition of the Babri mosque?<br /><br />Gadkari: Gujarat riots were unfortunate. But when riots take place in other states, why aren't governments and chief ministers blamed for that?<br /><br />BBC: Can Muslims forget Gujarat riots and the demolition of the Babri mosque?<br /><br />Gadkari: This is only a section of the media and certain individuals who write or say unfounded things about us.<br /><br />BBC: Are you saying that Gujarat riots and the demolition of the Babri mosque never happened and these incidents are media's creation?<br /><br />Gadkari: Both these incidents did happen. I am asking you why don't you corner Congress governments and their chief ministers for riots which took place in Congress-governed states, the way you are cornering Modi and the BJP? Riots took place in Mumbai in 1992 and the way Sikhs were killed in Delhi...<br /><br />BBC: But the Congress party is answerable for that.. and the media has been questioning the party...<br /><br />Gadkari: The basic thing is that nobody can manipulate or organise such incidents. These are the unfortunate reactions by the people at large.<br /><br />BBC: Do you think '84 riots were also a reaction of the people and there was no manipulation involved? <br /><br />Gadkari: Look, some people might be involved in those riots but it would not be entirely correct to say that the riots were initiated by the government. </p>
<p>In an exclusive interview to BBC Hindi Service, Gadkari said: "Some people might be involved in those riots but it would not be entirely correct to say that the riots were initiated by the government.<br /><br />"Nobody can manipulate or organise such incidents; these are unfortunate reactions of the people at large."<br /><br />Gadkari was replying to questions on the alleged involvement of the BJP and its government in the demolition of the Babri mosque and the 1992 Gujarat riots. <br /><br />"Gujarat riots were unfortunate. But when riots take place in other states, why aren't governments and chief ministers blamed for that?" the newly elected BJP president asked.<br /><br />"Why don't you corner Congress governments and their chief ministers for riots which took place in Congress-governed states, the way you are cornering Modi and the BJP? Riots took place in Mumbai in 1992 and the way Sikhs were killed in Delhi..."<br />He also said the BJP was not anti-Muslim, and shot back, "If our party were against the Muslims, why would we nominate Dr. Abdul Kalam as the president of the country?"<br /><br />Here are some excerpts from the interview:<br /><br />BBC: Can you assure the Muslim community that your party is not against them?<br /><br />Gadkari: If our party were against the Muslims, why would we nominate Dr. Abdul Kalam as the president of the country? <br /><br />BBC: Dr Abdul Kalam was surely made the President but how would your party wash the blemish of Gujarat riots? <br /><br />Gadkari: More serious riots took place in Mumbai (in 1992) but why wasn't the government (in the state) blamed? Why wasn't a Special Investigating Team set up against the then chief minister of Maharashtra?<br /><br />BBC: Do you think Muslims will forget the Gujarat riots and the demolition of the Babri mosque?<br /><br />Gadkari: Gujarat riots were unfortunate. But when riots take place in other states, why aren't governments and chief ministers blamed for that?<br /><br />BBC: Can Muslims forget Gujarat riots and the demolition of the Babri mosque?<br /><br />Gadkari: This is only a section of the media and certain individuals who write or say unfounded things about us.<br /><br />BBC: Are you saying that Gujarat riots and the demolition of the Babri mosque never happened and these incidents are media's creation?<br /><br />Gadkari: Both these incidents did happen. I am asking you why don't you corner Congress governments and their chief ministers for riots which took place in Congress-governed states, the way you are cornering Modi and the BJP? Riots took place in Mumbai in 1992 and the way Sikhs were killed in Delhi...<br /><br />BBC: But the Congress party is answerable for that.. and the media has been questioning the party...<br /><br />Gadkari: The basic thing is that nobody can manipulate or organise such incidents. These are the unfortunate reactions by the people at large.<br /><br />BBC: Do you think '84 riots were also a reaction of the people and there was no manipulation involved? <br /><br />Gadkari: Look, some people might be involved in those riots but it would not be entirely correct to say that the riots were initiated by the government. </p>
