BJP playing politics over Patna bomb blasts: Khurshid

Farrukhabad: External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid has charged BJP with playing politics over the Patna serial blasts which occurred during its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s rally. “BJP is playing politics in the name of bomb blasts during the Patna rally. On one hand, blasts continued and on the other, Modi’s speech continued from the dais. Had the BJP really been concerned about Modi’s well-being, it would have postponed the rally soon after the blasts started,” Khurshid said in reply to a question at a programme here last night. [caption id=“attachment_1219367” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid. PTI[/caption] BJP had demanded upgrading of security for Modi citing the Patna blasts and media reports that there is a heightened threat to him. The party had alleged “gross negligence” on the part of the Centre and the Bihar government, saying even standard operating procedures for security like frisking, sanitisation of the area and metal detectors were not used at the Patna rally. On BJP’s charge that Modi’s security was compromised, Khurshid said his (Modi’s) security is part of national security. Seven people were killed and several injured in six serial bomb blasts near the venue of Modi’s rally in Patna minutes before he reached there to address a huge gathering on October 27. PTI