New Delhi, July 31: BJP today sharply criticised NHRC's move to approach Supreme Court for retrial of the controversial Best Bakery and four other cases of communal riots outside Gujarat, saying it was attempt to damage India's image and "defame" the state. "There has been no such precedent. It will set a precedent," BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters here. He said the move was aimed at damaging India's image and attempt to defame Gujarat.
"Such demands can be raised in future also," Naidu said on the sidelines of a function to felicitate newly-appointed SGPC president G S Tohra. Questioning why the Best Bakery case was being given a separate treatment, the BJP chief said, "There have been riots earlier in Gujarat during Congress rule and convictions have been low. There have also been riots in Delhi, Meerut, Bhagalpur. But there have been no such demands for trial outside the state."
He, however, maintained that it was for the Supreme Court to decide whether to accept the demand and "it is not proper for politicians to comment on such a sub-judice matter." Bureau Report