BJP calls Rahul 'contract killer of idea of India'

NEW DELHI: Furious at Rahul Gandhi for equating RSS with radical Islamist outfit Muslim Brotherhood, BJP on Friday termed the Congress president a “contract killer of the idea called India”.

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said the likes of President Ram Nath Kovind, PM Narendra Modi and former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who died last week, had an RSS background and added that Rahul comparing the organisation with a radical Islamist outfit was “unforgivable”.

“Has Rahul Gandhi taken a 'supari' (contract for killing) for India... Stop this job of acting as a contract killer of the idea called India. The Congress chief should tender an immediate apology for likening the choice of Indians in an election with a terror outfit,” Patra said. “Rahul Gandhi should explain if people of the country have elected a terror organisation to lead the country,” he added.

Patra’s colleague Sudhanshu Trivedi said the Congress president had demeaned Indian culture and is an “immature” politician.

“Earlier, the Congress president used to go after Parliament session and say that he had gone for ‘dhyan’ and to gain knowledge. And now, on the recent tours he has been sharing his knowledge with the people. This shows his immaturity, incapability and ill-will. It shows clearly that he is not capable of being a good opposition leader, leave aside holding the post of Prime Minister," Trivedi said.

Patra said Rahul had no maturity and understanding of India and no leadership quality. “What he has said will be headlines in Pakistan's media tomorrow. The Congress president could not tolerate Modi as Prime Minister as he came from a poor background and a backward community,” he added.

Earlier, BJP had attacked the Congress chief for invoking Guru Nanak, the first Sikh Guru, during his address in Berlin, saying his party was identified with anti-Sikh riots in 1984 and he should apologise for the “heinous crime” at the Golden Temple.

"We are pained to know that Rahul, who reminds us of anti-Sikh riots of 1984, claims that his thoughts resemble the first Sikh guru, Guru Nanak Devji. Actually, his thoughts are in line with Congress culture of divide and rule," BJP secretary R P Singh said at a press conference.

Addressing the Indian diaspora at a function organised by the Indian Overseas Congress in Berlin on Thursday night, Rahul said the Congress’ thought of “unity in diversity” came from the times of Guru Nanak Dev, and BJP-RSS divided people and spread hatred.