New Delhi, Oct 18 (UNI) Launching a scathing attack on the Congress, after senior leader Shashi Tharoor questioned the government, over it's handling of COVID-19 pandemic, BJP on Sunday accused Mr Tharoor of 'demeaning and discrediting' India and wondered if (former Congress president) Rahul Gandhi wanted to contest elections in Pakistan.

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra told reporters here that it was 'unbelievable' that a senior Congress leader and an MP like Tharoor can make such comments against India at a Pakistani forum.

'He has demeaned India and projected the country in dim light,' Mr Patra said.

Referring to Mr Tharoor's remarks that Mr Gandhi had warned about the severity of Novel Coronavirus as early as in February and that he should be getting credit for it, the BJP leader claimed that the Kerala MP was a close friend of the former Congress president and wondered if Mr Gandhi wanted to get credit in Pakistan and contest the polls there.

He is already a 'hero' in China and Pakistan, Mr Patra alleged.

The BJP leader also referred to Mr Tharoor's comments about Indian citizens from the Northeast at times facing problems elsewhere in the country, to target the Congress.

'What was the need to discuss such matters at a Pakistani forum? There is no country in this world as democratic and just as India,' he said.

In a swipe at Mr Gandhi, Mr Patra said he and the BJP will now call him 'Rahul Lahori'.

UNI ASH RJ 2020