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BJP allies against Gujarat polls being held right now

"However, it is for the Election Commission (EC) to take a final view on the matter," senior Trinamool Congress member Krishna Bose said during a debate in the Lok Sabha on relief and rehabilitation efforts in the strife-torn state.

Stating that the events in Gujarat had 'brought shame to India', Bose said she had a 'sad experience' during her visit to relief camps in the state.

A feeling of 'alienation and suppressed anger' prevailed among the victims and 'alienation is the breeding ground for terrorism', she warned.

TDP leader K Yerrannaidu emphasised that elections cannot be the 'overriding priority at this stage'.

"The ball is in the Election Commission's court. We should not pressurise it," Naidu said.

"At this crucial juncture, relief and rehabilitation to those affected is the foremost thing," he said, adding "The need of the hour is for giving a healing touch and confidence to the people in the state."

JD(U) member Devendra Prasad Yadav said the Modi government had failed to check or ban 'those organisations which were responsible for the carnage' because 'reaction (to a Godhra-type incident) can go on for some days or a few weeks, but not for months together'.

"Rajdharma means equal treatment and justice to all sections of people. But did it happen in Gujarat?" Yadav asked referring to the prime minister's advise to Modi to adhere to raj dharma.

"Despite being in the NDA, I have to say that the spread of communalism is not part of the NDA agenda. The agenda is for secularism and no one has the right to tamper with it," Yadav said.

"It is definite that some organisations were behind the violence and there was a conspiracy," the JD(U) leader said, adding it would take years to restore communal amity among the people in Gujarat as also their rehabilitation.

The EC should 'set some standards' to decide on holding of polls, he said.

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