Hyderabad, October 24: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi’s comments that he may be killed like his father and grandmother and his attack on BJP are only a reflection of the ruling party’s “despair and frustration”, senior BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu said in Hyderabad on Thursday.
“Congress vice president’s speech on Wednesday at Churu is a reflection of the party’s despair and frustration. They are not able to digest the growing popularity of Narendra Modi. So, they are trying to spread misinformation,” Mr. Naidu told reporters.
This is an attempt to gain sympathy by talking about past issues. These things show that they have no answer to the challenges before the country, he said.
“It also shows that they have no explanation to their failures and that they lack the ability to take on the development agenda being put forward by NDA, BJP and Narendra Modi. Above all, they lack a strong and dynamic leadership.
They are trying to gain sympathy by saying that Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi were killed,” he said.
Mr. Rahul on Wednesday accused BJP of instigating politics of anger and hate for political gains and went emotional to say that one day he too may be killed like his grandmother and father but he is not “bothered”.
“The basic question is who created this atmosphere, which has given birth and growth to divisive, sectarian and fissiparous tendencies thereby giving rise to terrorists and extremist elements? Undoubtedly, it is the Congress and the Congress alone,” Mr. Naidu said.
He accused Congress of adopting soft approach towards anti-national forces and promoting Bindranwale to weaken Akalis. “Who allied with Muslim League? Who are friends with Owaisi and Shahabuddin? Who promoted communal politics? Is it not Congress? Who sent IPKF to Sri Lanka and is responsible for the death of our soldiers? the BJP leader asked.
Mr. Naidu alleged that policies of Congress were solely responsible for “growth of terrorism and separatism.”
Voicing strong opposition to the proposed communal violence bill, Mr. Naidu alleged that it is aimed at getting “at least minorities on their side”.
“Ranganath Mishra and Sachar Committee recommendations are themselves indicators of the failures of the Congress government over the years in taking care of the welfare of minorities,” he said.
Mr. Naidu cited several instances including recent letter of Union Home Minister to the states to take extra care while dealing with criminal cases involving Muslims, which he said are efforts by Congress to woo the minorities.
“All these efforts are aimed not at improving the conditions of the minorities but to temporarily sway them towards the Congress and to get their votes. It makes very clear that the Congress wants ghettoisation, not integration. Is it the way to bring unity in the country?” he asked.
If the proposed bill becomes a law, it will intrude into the domain of the states “which will affect the federal system and create imbalance among the communities,” he said.
He alleged that more lives were lost when Congress was in power in various riots that happened since 1967, as per statistics, than in BJP rule, including 2002 riots in Gujarat.
“The law is against the basic principles of equality and fairness. This is nothing but a draconian law and I think no state will accept this and the nation will also reject this. This is to neither favour minorities nor to safeguard their interests. This is intended to cater to the vote bank politics of the Congress party,” Mr. Naidu said.
