Rahul Gandhi should apologise for ISI remark on Muzaffarnagar riots: Jairam Ramesh

New Delhi: Senior Congress leader and Rural Development minister Jairam Ramesh has said that his party's vice-president Rahul Gandhi should apologise to Muslims for his controversial ISI remark following the Muzaffarnagar riots.

Mr Ramesh said Mr Gandhi should apologise to the Muslim community for saying that Muslim youth in Muzaffarnagar were in touch with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence or ISI after over 60 people were killed and nearly 45,000 displaced in September.

"What will Rahul Gandhi say or do, I can't say. If you're saying he should clarify his statement and apologise, then I agree with you," he said in response to a question on Mr Gandhi's statement during an interaction with Urdu media professionals at the India Islamic Cultural Centre in the national capital.

The minister said Rahul Gandhi is secular to the core and that no one can doubt his credentials in the matter. "He is genuinely concerned about minorities, weaker sections, Dalits and deprived classes." Mr Ramesh said.

"He has not raised any question on the (Muslim) community, hasn't shown any suspicion or doubted their intentions. I agree that the statement shouldn't have been made the way it was made," Mr Ramesh said. Union ministers K Rehman Khan and Rajiv Shukla were also present at the event.

The Congress has, meanwhile, distanced itself from Mr Ramesh's remarks.

"Rahul Gandhi has already answered to the Election Commission's notice and the poll panel too has appreciated the motive behind what he has said. We respect the intention of Election Commission. What Jairam Ramesh has said might be his personal opinion; it is not party's opinion," Congress leader Meem Afzal said today.

The Congress vice-president had made the controversial remarks at two election rallies in poll-bound states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh last month while referring to the Muslim youth affected by the violence in Muzaffarnagar. (Riot victims furious over Rahul Gandhi's remark)

The remark created a furore ahead of crucial elections with Muslim leaders accusing Mr Gandhi of questioning the patriotism of the community.

The Election Commission had also expressed displeasure over Rahul Gandhi's remarks and had advised him to be more circumspect in his poll speeches. (Read)