Acknowledging that communal riots and other sectarian acts did take place during Congress rule, former Union minister Salman Khurshid has said the party's hands are stained with blood.
Khurshid made the remark at the Aligarh Muslim University on Sunday in response to a student accusing the Congress of having Muslim blood on its hands and asking how the party proposed to wash it off.
"It is a political question. There is blood on our hands. I am also a part of the Congress so let me say it, we have blood on our hands, said Khurshid.
The Congress leader also asserted that that was not a reason why his party should not come forward to protect Muslims in case of attacks against them.
"I am telling you. We are ready to show the blood on our hands so that you realise that you too must not get blood on your hands. If you attack them, you are the ones who would get stains on your hands," Khurshid said.
"Learn something from our past. Learn from our history and don't create such situations for yourself where if you come back to Aligarh Muslim University after 10 years, you find no one like yourself putting out questions," he said.
The student's question was prefaced with a list of communal conflagrations, including at Maliana and Muzaffarnagar, and various other sectarian acts like the opening of the gates of Babri Masjid, placing of idols inside it and then its demolition during the Congress government.
The Congress has Muslim blood on its hands. With what words will you wash it off?" the student had asked.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)