Congress blames probe and legal team, BJP blames Congress

The Congress, which was in power when the Hashimpura killings took place, has blamed the prosecution and the investigating agency following the acquittal of 16 Provincial Armed Constabulary personnel of murder charges. The BJP did not comment on the ruling but targeted the SP and the Congress for the killings. And the SP and the BSP both have expressed their sympathy for the Muslim victims.

Congress Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari, who was a minister in the state government in 1987, said both the prosecution and the investigating agency (CB-CID) have failed to do their duty sincerely. “The killers should be punished, whoever they are,” Tiwari said.

BJP state president Laxmikant Bajpai, the Meerut MLA, said, “No comment on the court’s decision. But if in 26 years the prosecution is not able to prove its case, they are responsible. When the incident took place, the Congress was in power and gave the probe to CB-CID, and now an SP government was fighting the case. So both are responsible.”

The Samajwadi Party too refused to comment on the acquittal but added it is sad. “I had visited Hashipura after the incident along with Mulayam Singh Yadav. The Muslims were terrified. It is now being said that 42 persons were killed but we were then told that hundreds had died,” said Rajendra Choudhary, state SP spokesperson. “Muslims were murdered; it was a massacre.”

The BSP’s Munquad Ali, a Rajya Sabha MP who hails from Meerut, is disappointed with the ruling. “The point is, Muslims are of no importance. They are used for personal interests and then ignored. This is an example,” he said.

Source:: Indian Express