Cong to Amitabh: Do you endorse Modi’s ‘role’ in Gujarat riots?

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Firing a salvo at Amitabh Bachchan, Congress on Monday asked whether he endorses Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s “role” in the 2002 “pogrom” or condemns it.

“Does he (Amitabh) condemn the role of Narendra Modi in the 2002 Gujarat pogrom of 2002 or he endorses it?…What does he say about the Gujarat massacre and fake encounters that took place since Modi took over,” Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari asked at a briefing here.

His salvo at the brand ambassador of Gujarat came after Modi hit out at Congress, saying those opposing Bachchan were “taliban of untouchability”.

Tewari said “if he (Bachchan) is sensible and right-thinking, he will come out strongly against it (the riots).”

He said Bachchan “should not build the Chinese Wall between Modi and the sands of Rann of Kutch by justifying” brand ambassadorship of Gujarat.

Tewari said the Congress’ Gujarat unit had raised important questions and the central unit endorses those concerns.

Earlier, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni lashed out at Modi for dubbing Bachchan’s opponents as taliban, saying he was a “frustrated” Chief Minister after his marathon questioning by the SIT in connection with a post-Godhara riots case.

“I can understand Modi is feeling very, very frustrated because for the first time in 63 years, a Chief Minister elected by the people of the country is being made to stand before the Special Investigating Team for about 10 hours in a question and answer session,” the Congress leader said on the sidelines of a function by Seva Dal, a party wing, here.

“This has apparently frustrated him to use the word Taliban in a light and flippant manner. Those who have been victims of Taliban, know what Taliban is. He has used the word Taliban so lightly. He should make such statements with some seriousness,” she said.