Shimla, Dec 01: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today attacked the Congress for making post-Godhra communal riots in Gujarat an issue in assembly poll in the state and asserted the BJP would never encourage communal hatred to further its political interests. Talking to mediapersons here, he said the BJP decided not make Godhara a poll issue and Gujrat Chief Minister Narendra Modi also agreed to it. But the Congress, in its election manifesto in the state, even went to the extent of promising to bring out a white paper on Godhra.

Vajpayee said Gujrat incidents were "most unfortunate" and "it should be our effort to ensure that such incidents were not repeated." "The BJP will never encourage communal hatred to further its political interests but all parties must reach consensus on this issue and prove it by their conduct," he said.

Vajpayee pointed out that the BJP poll manifesto for Gujarat did not make any reference to Godhra and said maintaining communal harmony would be the main task before the new government irrespective of which party formed it. Bureau Report