New Delhi, Apr 5 (IBN) : Bharatiya Janata Party Uttar Pradesh in-charge Amit Shah has appealed to the electorate to take revenge by voting in favour of his party candidates in the the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. While addressing a rally at a riot-hit Jat village near Muzzafarnagar, the close aide of BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi said, "If you want to take revenge you should vote for the BJP. You can no longer resolve a matter with swords and arrows. Today you can take revenge by voting for the BJP."
He said, "Justice is not being done to the people and it's time to take revenge. It was during the Mughal rule that swords and arrows were used to take revenge. But now you have to vote to take revenge. Press the right button to show them their right place."
Another BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also echoed Shah's sentiments and said, "The Uttar Pradesh government has disrespected the people of the state. The leaders who engaged in 'secular tourism' have insulted the common people. This is not a matter of Hindus and Muslims, all the victims were hurt by these leaders."
The Congress questioned the BJP over Shah's remarks with party leader Satyavrat Chaturvedi asking, "The BJP has blamed the Congress of spreading communalism over Sonia Gandhi's meeting with Shahi Imam. On the other hand they are instigating people. I would like to know what their stand on Amit Shah's remarks is."
The BJP had a few days ago accused the Congress of spreading the poison of communalism after party President Sonia Gandhi met Jama Masjid Shahi Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari. Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley had said, "The Congress is staring at defeat in the Lok Sabha elections and is raising the issue of communalism. It will backfire and will land the Congress in trouble."
The Samajwadi Party also attacked the BJP over Shah's remarks. Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav said, "Amit Shah's statement proves the BJP is a divisive party. The people of Muzaffarnagar will teach Amit Shah a lesson for his remarks."
Uttar Pradesh's Mizaffarnagar had wtnessed communal violence, which had broken out on September 7, 2013. The violence had claimed over 40 lives. It left 85 others injured and rendered 51,000 people, mostly Muslims, homeless.