The BJP today accused Rahul Gandhi of practising the "lowest form of politics" and said it was bizarre to see the president of the country's oldest party stoop to such a low, after the Congress chief's allegation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not give "respect" to his "guru" L K Advani.
Hitting back at the Gandhi, Baluni referred to Congress leaders' criticism of former president Pranab Mukherjee for attending an RSS event, and said the country had seen how the party treated one of its veterans.
Congress leaders had torn to pieces clothes of its then president Sitaram Kesari and thrown him out of his office, Baluni said as he cited alleged mistreatment of former prime minister P V Narasimha Rao by his party to make his point.
Rahul Gandhi should not lecture us political values, he said.
"The Congress president is practising the lowest form of politics. He is violating our social and political norms. He does not even seem to know the kind of politics he is doing. The country is watching how the president of the oldest political party is behaving," Baluni said.
Addressing a rally of Congress workers in Mumbai today, Gandhi said Modi did not treat his guru (Advani) with respect even at official functions.
"Everybody knows who is the guru and mentor of Modi -- L K Advani. But the Prime Minister doesn't accord respect to him even at official functions. It is me who follows protocol and I am always with him (Advani) during (such) events," he said.
He then spoke about his visit to AIIMS yesterday to see ailing former prime minister and BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee to score a point.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)