“UP has the history of implication of innocent people in FIR and abusive criminal proceeding,” he said, alleging that SP has again made similar promises in its manifesto.
Prasad said riots would not have spread in Muzaffarnagar had the police acted against the rioteers in time. “200 riots took place during the SP regime,” he said.
He also said that those very forces were behind the FIR against Shah, who are wary of the “wave” in favour of Modi in the country and especially in Uttar Pradesh.
“Now people of the state will take revenge for this insult. People of the state will reply to this attempt of polarisation. This is not FIR but a revenge...BJP condemns it,” Prasad said.
At the same time, he said, BJP is not afraid of the legal battle, which is a separate aspect. “Yes, they can since an FIR has been lodged,” he said, when asked about possibility of Shah's arrest.
On why BJP was blaming the UP government or political parties for the FIR against Shah as during elections it is done as per the directive of the Election Commission, Prasad disagreed and asked if everything was done at the direction of EC, why the administration did not act against Cobrapost sting on Babri Mosque demolition.
To questions about BJP polarising the polls, he said, “BJP is fighting election on the issue of governance, price rise and stinking corruption during UPA.”
He dubbed as communal politics Sonia Gandhi's meeting with Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid Syed Bukhari.
