Under attack from the BJP over its leader Sam Pitroda’s comment on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the Congress on Friday issued a statement distancing itself while asserting that the party continues to strive for justice for victims of any riot.

“Any opinion remark made by any individual to the contrary including Sam Pitroda is not the opinion of Congress party,” the statement read.

The party also countered BJP’s accusations by invoking the 2002 Godhra riots.

“Congress believes that justice should be done to 1984 victims as also to 2002 Gujarat riot victims,” the party said in its statement.

The grand old party also took a jibe at the BJP for giving ticket to Malegaon blast accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur.

“Unlike the BJP which has decided to field a candidate charged with terror crimes, Congress has shown the moral and political courage to punish its people and leaders accused of violence/role in 1984,” the party said.

Hitting at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress said, “For BJP riots are vote garnering exercise. People should see through this Machiavellian game of deception, distraction and distortion by Modi.”

The entire BJP top brass, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, came down heavily on the Congress a day after Pitroda brushed aside accusations on the Congress over the 1984 anti-Sikh riots incident.

Pitroda, the in-charge of the Congress’s overseas units, on Thursday rubbished BJP’s allegation that the 1984 anti-Sikh riots took place on the orders of former PM Rajiv Gandhi.

“Ab kya hai ’84 ka? Aapne kya kiya 5 saal mein, uski baat kariye. ’84 mein hua to hua. Aapne kya kiya? (What about 1984 now? What have you done in the last five years, talk about that. What happened in 1984, happened. What have you done?),” Pitroda was quoted as saying by ANI.

Addressing an election rally in Haryana’s Rohtak, the PM said on Friday that the three words – ‘hua to hua’ – sum up the arrogance of the grand old party and proves that “they have no regard for life”.

“These three words are proof that the party which ruled the country for most of the time is insensitive. The words reflect the character, mentality and intention of the Congress party,” the PM said.

Without naming Pitroda and referring to Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, the PM said, “This leader is the closest to the Gandhi family and is the ‘guru’ of the party’s ‘naamdar’ (dynast).”

“Many Sikhs in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh were targeted during the 1984 riots but today Congress is saying ‘hua to hua’,” he said.

Read More: ‘Hua to hua’ reflects Congress mentality: PM Modi on Sam Pitroda’s 1984 riots remark

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday slammed the Congress over Sam Pitroda’s remarks on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots that killed 3,000.

In strongly-worded tweets, Jaitley said that Pitroda’s comment is “reflective of the lack of remorse” in the Congress over the genocide and asked if Gandhi will oust his ‘guru’.

“Will the Congress President oust his ‘Guru’, who rubbishes the genocide of India’s most patriotic community in 1984?” he said.

The 1984 riots followed the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by two of her Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984. At least 3000 innocent Sikhs were killed, mainly in Delhi and Punjab.

Several Congress leaders have been accused of instigating the mob during the riots.