The Gujarat government on Thursday alleged the relief package announced by the Centre for the 2002 post-Godhra riot victims "has political overtones and is discriminatory in nature".
Opposition Congress hailed the package, saying finally justice has been done.
"The package announced by the Centre for the riot victims has political overtones, as this has been announced when Parliament elections are approaching," government spokesperson and Health Minister Jaynarayan Vyas said.
"The UPA government's intentions are not right as they could have done this much earlier. They could have announced this decision a week after they gave compensation to anti-Sikh riot victims," Vyas said.
"I would further say this package is discriminatory. Between the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and 2002 Godhra riots, many riots have taken place in the country. Why such kind of compensation has not been given to the other riot victims," Vyas asked.
"Does the nation have a policy to compensate family of those killed in terrorist attacks," Vyas asked.
The UPA government should declare the compensation to the family of victims of all the terrorist attacks, he demanded.
"Why are Akshardham victim not included in the riot compensation package as the attack had direct relation to the 2002 riots. Same type of package should also be given to the family of victims of recent Jaipur serial blasts," Vyas said.