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Congress decries collapse of law and order in Gujarat

Shahid K Abbas in New Delhi

The Congress on Thursday launched a broadside at the Gujarat government on the developments in Godhra, describing it as a "collapse of the law-enforcing machinery".

Denying that some Congress workers were involved in the violence, chief spokesman S Jaipal Reddy said, "We absolutely repudiate the involvement of the Congress party in this incident. The BJP, having turned a blind eye to the villainy of the VHP, is now desperately seeking a scapegoat."

Refuting the Bharatiya Janata Party's charge that the Congress had not condemned the incidents, Reddy pointed out that Leader of the Opposition Sonia Gandhi had "grossly condemned" them in the "strongest possible terms" in a statement on Wednesday itself and appealed to all sections to maintain peace.

"It is absolutely irresponsible on the part of BJP leaders to say that Congress did not condemn the incident," he said.

Pointing out that the BJP rules both in the state and at the Centre, Reddy said its responsibility is "all the more greater, not only to ensure peace, but also to produce the widespread political impression that the governments, both in Delhi and in Gujarat, are fair-minded and evenhanded".

He said the political affairs committee of the Congress discussed the matter on Thursday morning and expressed deep concern at the sharp deterioration in law and order in Gujarat, with riots taking place in many towns.

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