Cong. fuelling tensions: Prasad

A day after violent protests broke out across the country over the March 20 order of the Supreme Court, the Congress and the BJP were engaged in a war of words on Tuesday.

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad accused the Congress of “fuelling tensions” while the party claimed Mr. Prasad’s statement on Monday that the Centre was not a party to the case in the Supreme Court was “factually incorrect”.

Rejecting allegations of a delay in filing a review petition, Mr. Prasad targeted Congress chief Rahul Gandhi for his tweet stating that the BJP had an anti-Dalit mindset in its DNA. “Where is the delay? And let me ask Rahul Gandhi that did he appeal for peace and clam yesterday [Monday]?” he said.

He alleged that the circumstances surrounding the violence on Monday, especially in BJP-ruled States, were “too suspicious.”

‘PM should explain’

Speaking to presspersons, Anand Sharma, Deputy Leader of the Congress in the Rajya Sabha, asked the Prime Minister to explain why Mr. Prasad claimed that the Centre was not a party to the case.

“The same Prime Minister is silent when his Ministers mislead. We want to know why the statement was made and we reiterate our demand that the government should now go in for urgent course correction, ensure that the law is respected in letter and in spirit and not diluted in any manner,” he said.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said the Supreme Court had given notice as far back as November 20 since the case involved interpreting Central statutes. Mr. Prasad did not get into specific points but senior officials in the Ministry said hearing a review petition in an open court is a ‘vindication’ of the government.