BJP attacks Rahul Gandhi for referring to Jaish chief as ‘Masood Azhar ji’

NEW DELHI: Rahul Gandhi’s slip of tongue in referring to Jaish-e-Muhammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar with a “ji” honorific saw BJP pounce on the comment to attack him for his “reverence” for terrorists even as party activists begun running hashtags on the theme. Addressing a meeting of Congress workers in Delhi, Rahul had said, “These people with 56-inch chest, you would recall, in their previous government, the current national security advisor Ajit Doval went in an aircraft with Masood Azhar ji and handed over Masood Azhar there in Kandahar.”

BJP leaders picked up the remarkto return fire over the Congress leader’s attacks on Doval. “What is common between Rahul Gandhi and Pakistan? Their love for terrorists. Please note Rahulji’s reverence for terrorist Masood Azhar, a testimony to Rahul’s love for terrorists,” textiles minister Smriti Irani, who could be Rahul’s opponent in Amethi, said. Law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “Come on “Rahul Gandhi Ji”! Earlier it was the likes of Digvijay Ji who called ‘Osama Ji’ and ‘Hafiz Saeed Sahab’. Now you are saying ‘Masood Azhar Ji’. What is happening to Congress party?”

BJP’s official Twitter handle shared the video and said: “Look how much Rahul Gandhi has respect for the head of the Jaish-e-Muhammed, who was responsible for killing of 44 brave soldiers.” Congress sought to get out of the situation with party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala accusing BJP of twisting the remarks. “Two questions to BJP and select bhakt media, who deliberately seek to twist the ‘Masood’ sarcasm of Rahulji: Did NSA Doval not escort and release terrorist Masood Azhar in Kandahar? Did Modiji not invite Pakistan’s rogue ISI to investigate Pathankot terror attack?”