Right to dissent not meant to conspire against country: Shah

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court’s rejection of the charge that Pune police had arrested five activists solely because of their opposition to the Modi government buoyed BJP to launch a sharp attack on Congress president Rahul Gandhi for allegedly undermining national security for political considerations.

“Logical debate and right to dissent are integral to democracy. However, it is certainly not meant to conspire against the country. Those who politicised the issue of national security for appeasement politics should apologise to the nation,” BJP chief Amit Shah tweeted shortly after the SC held that there was evidence to link the activists to the outlawed CPI (Maoist).

Rahul had said the arrests were carried out by the BJP government in Maharashtra to muzzle dissent and that the government could not brook any NGO other than the RSS. “Shut down all other NGOs. Jail all activists and shoot those that complain. Welcome to the new India,” he had said.

On Friday, Shah hit back and said, “There is only one place for idiocy and it’s called the Congress.” Shah further said, “Support 'Bharat Ke Tukde Tukde Gang' (break India gang), Maoists, fake activists and corrupt elements. Defame all those who are honest and working. Welcome to Rahul Gandhi’s Congress.” Shah said Rahul should explain if he was supporting ‘urban Naxals’ and illegal immigrants or common citizens.