Senior BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday dismissed the Congress clarification on AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi's statement on Hindu extremism and demanded that the youth leader himself explain his statement.
“The clarification by Congress spokespersons is [like] how a Maharaja's palace would pass on a statement. Rahul Gandhi should clarify his statement himself. Only he will be able to tell us the facts,” Mr. Naidu told journalists here.
As per a U.S. diplomatic cable revealed by the WikiLeaks, Mr. Gandhi told U.S. Ambassador to India Timothy Roemer that he saw “the growth of radicalised Hindu groups” as a bigger threat than “some support” for the Lashkar-e-Taiba in India.
Mr. Naidu termed the statement irresponsible, one that could weaken India's fight against terrorism. He also criticised senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh for his remarks on the former Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad chief, Hemant Karkare, who was killed in the 26/11 attacks.
Both leaders were “talking the language of Pakistan. By such irresponsible thought, they [Congress] are strengthening Pakistan's case. The more you talk of Hindu or saffron terrorism, the more India's fight against terrorism will get weakened. Terrorism has no caste, religion or colour. Any terrorist is an enemy of the nation. Pakistan has been aiding, abetting in and funding terrorism. They [Pakistan] wanted to cripple India economically [through the 26/11 attacks] and invoke jihadis to [split] India along religious lines,” Mr. Naidu said.
Mr. Gandhi should first “understand India” before making “sweeping allegations.”
“It will take time. It's not as easy as going to a village here and taking a train ride there. India is a big country, and there are plenty of problems.”
Mr. Naidu pointed to the recent suicide by the son-in-law of Kalavati Bandurkar of Vidarbha, Maharashtra. (Mr. Gandhi referred to her in his speech during the trust vote sought by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Parliament in July 2009) He had visited her house, sparking much hype. “We thought at least their family could have been taken care of. But now, her son-in-law has committed suicide. This is just one example of the Congress propaganda.”
Referring to the statements by various Congress leaders on terrorism, Mr. Naidu accused the party of “catering to vote banks.” It had compromised with the Muslim League, the People's Democratic Party, the United Liberation Front of Asom and Maoists. The outcome of the Bihar elections pointed to the “dwindling base” of the Congress. “They are losing support among the people because they did not stand by their promises. They have betrayed the people on terrorism, inflation and Maoism.”
The scam in 2G spectrum allocation proved that the Congress' austerity drive was mere symbolism, he said.
Now that a raft of scams rocked the nation, the Congress must do soul-searching. “The All-India Congress Committee plenary session is going to commence. The party should introspect on whether it is following in the footsteps of the leaders it hails. It has given up the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel and all the great heroes. The Congress agenda today is power at any cost; they are ready to do anything for it.”
Asked whether the BJP was soft on the corruption charges against Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, Mr. Naidu said a judicial probe into the issue of land de-notification was under way. The former Chief Ministers, H.D. Kumaraswamy and S.M. Krishna, had also de-notified land, he said.
