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Minister of State for Home Affairs and Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed said the general view in the Congress party is that BJP leader Sushma Swaraj should be tried for treason for alleging that the "Centre has role in the blasts in Karnataka and Ahmedabad [Images]".

In an exclusive interview to rediff.com, Ahmed said this was the most unfortunate statement coming from a senior leader of the BJP.

"Our opinion is that she should be tried for treason and I am speaking to you as the spokesperson of the party and not a minister. This kind of statement undermines the investigations and is an attempt to change the direction of investigations. The ISI will be too pleased with her statement as it comes from a senior leader and a former minister of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. This is like virtually giving a clean chit to terrorists," he said

Ahmed said Swaraj should tender unconditional apology from the nation.

He denied that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi [Images] refused to receive Sonia Gandhi [Images] in the blast-hit Ahmedabad, by saying that the protocol did not allow him to do that.

"I am not aware that Modi made such a statement. Sonia has never sought favours from any states and has been going directly to the places where she has to visit," Ahmed said.

He stressed on the importance of having a federal agency to investigate crimes which have been committed in several states so that it could be properly coordinated.