Home minister Amit Shah told an election rally on Friday that the BJP had established “permanent peace” in Gujarat after Congress-supported perpetrators of violence were “taught a lesson” in 2002.

In February-March 2002, Gujarat had witnessed an anti-Muslim pogrom after a train fire at Godhra railway station killed 59 kar sevaks returning from Ayodhya, with the then state government widely blamed for failing to control the violence.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was then the chief minister. “During Congress rule in Gujarat (before 1995), communal riots were rampant. The Congress used to incite people from different communities and castes to fight against each other,” news agency PTI quoted Shah as telling an election rally in Mahudha town, Kheda district, translating his remarks from Gujarati.

“Through such riots, the Congress strengthened its vote bank and did injustice to a large section of society. But after they were taught a lesson in 2002, these elements left that path (of violence). They have refrained from indulging in violence from 2002 to 2022. The BJP has established permanent peace in Gujarat by taking strict action against those who used to indulge in communal violence.”

Shah seemed to be blaming the Congress for the 2002 riots, saying they took place because the perpetrators had developed a habit of indulging in violence, emboldened by the support they received from the Congress. Shah’s attempt to rake up a dark chapter from the past comes days after Modi sought to portray himself as a victim of Congress abuse, with both leaders appearing to be trying to emotionally charge up voters before the December 1 and 5 polls.

The BJP has ruled Gujarat almost continuously for the past 27 years, largely relying on polarising campaigns ahead of elections, at least since 2002. In this election, the party seems so far not to have succeeded in surcharging the atmosphere. One key reason for this may be the unusually temperate campaigning by the Congress, wary of handing its opponent an opportunity to play on voter emotions.

Barring a stray comment by Madhusudan Mistry who said “Modi ko uski aukat dikha denge (Will show Modi his place)”, the Congress has chosen to focus on livelihood issues.

At an election rally early this week, Modi had seized on Mistry’s comment and recalled past attacks on him by the Congress. But he has since then refrained from replaying the victim card, possibly because of a perception that it hadn’t had the expected impact on the voters.

Shah and other BJP campaigners have, however, continued to try and divide voters and provoke the Congress by speaking of the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, and promising to bring in a uniform civil code.

At Friday’s rally, Shah said the Congress had opposed the abrogation of Article 370 provisions with an eye on the “vote bank”, and lauded Modi for the construction of the Ram temple. “Book your tickets for Ayodhya in advance. The grand Ram temple will be complete in 2024,” Shah said.