Patna, June 19: A credit war is on in Bhagalpur between the political parties and leaders with each claiming to have “unravelled” the truth behind the Bhagalpur riots.

Though it was the vultures hovering over the Logain “cauliflower field” that led ASI A.K Singh to dig up the truth, and bodies, the “real” vultures flew in to scavenge for credit after the field was cleared and the birds flew away.

“Their (vultures) absence has paved way for parties and netas to usurp credit for the conviction of those accused in the riots,” said a former minister and senior Congress leader Shakeel-Uz-Zammah, rather sardonically.

RJD general secretary Shakeel Ahmad said: “We got the cases registered against the accused during the RJD regime. The court’s verdict is the result of the action that our government initiated against rioters.

“How can the communal BJP, which has its hands smeared in blood of minorities, and is a part of the Nitish Kumar-led NDA, seek conviction for rioters, who killed minority members?”

Ahmad’s remarks came in response to a statement made by deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi, who said: “It took 18 long years for the verdict to come out. The delay was because the previous regime did not pay attention to the trial. Our government has initiated the process of speedy trial, bringing justice.”

“It’s not the first case of conviction. As many as 308 accused in the Bhagalpur riots had been convicted for life during our regime itself,” Ahmad said, countering Modi’s claim.

He reels off figures: 16 persons were convicted for the massacre in Chanderi, while 22 others were sentenced for the Chara massacre. As many as 10 persons were convicted in Kumarganj massacre case.

“All these were different cases of the Bhagalpur riots that took place during the RJD regime,” he said.

However, the former chief minister and senior Janata Dal(U) leader, Jagannath Mishra, who was in the Congress when the riots took place, profusely praised chief minister Nitish Kumar for “speedy conviction to victims”.

The JD(U) general secretary, Shivanand Tiwary, too, heaped praises on the chief minister for “initiating the process of speedy trial ensuring speedy conviction in the cases”.

Even though the conviction of 14 people for the massacre of 116 Muslims after a gap of 18 years for one of the worst genocide does not mean much to the hapless citizens of Logain, Bhagalpur riots still continue to haunt politicians.