Uttar Pradesh riots engineered, says Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi: Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi Saturday said he believed the frequent incidents of communal violence in Uttar Pradesh were "artificially engineered".

“The communal clashes in the state were part of a deliberate strategy to "divide the poor and pit brother against brother," said Mr Gandhi.

Media reports allege that there have been over 600 incidents of communal tension or violence between the end of May and July this year in Uttar Pradesh, which is ruled by the SP.

Mr Gandhi had on Wednesday led his party's vociferous demand for an urgent discussion on communal violence in Lok Sabha. He had surprised many when he had rushed to the well of the House and accused the Speaker of being biased.