BJP playing caste politics, defending Nirav, Lalit Modi: Cong slams Nadda
The verbal war between the Congress and the BJP continued to rage on social media.
Rebutting BJP chief J P Nadda’s allegation that Rahul Gandhi had compared OBC communities to thieves, the Congress on Friday (March 23) turned on the ruling party accusing them of defending the likes of fugitives Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi, and indulging in “caste politics”.
As a war of words broke out between BJP and Congress after Gandhi’s conviction in a defamation case over the “Modi surname” remarks, Nadda alleged that “lies, personal slander and negative politics is integral” to his politics.
“By comparing OBC communities to thieves, Rahul Gandhi has shown a pathetic and casteist mindset. However, his latest tirade is not surprising,” Nadda said, adding that for the last many years, Rahul has always reduced levels of political discourse.
Also read: Why is BJP solely focused on discrediting Rahul Gandhi?
Hitting back, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, in a tweet in Hindi, said, “Modi government cannot escape from JPC! Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, and Mehul Choksi fled with the money of PNB and the public. OBCs did not do so, then how were they insulted?”
“SBI/LIC suffered losses due to your best friend!” he said slamming the government. Ek toh chori mein sahyog phir jatigat rajneeti ka prayog (First providing help in stealing then applying caste politics),” Kharge said and termed it “shameful”.
Later, interacting with reporters, the Congress president said his party is seeking answers as to who ran away with people’s money, while the BJP is trying to distract from the main issue.
“They are talking of insult to backward classes. The Congress has always stood with and fought for the backward classes, scheduled castes and minorities. These people who believe in Manu, talk of backward classes,” Kharge said.
Also read: Rahul Gandhi defends his UK remarks at Parliamentary panel meet
Politics of defamation
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also lashed out at Nadda, saying he was distorting facts and indulging in “politics of defamation”.
“By doing he is defending Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi. This truth had to come out and now it has come out. Thank you Nadda ji for your honesty. Now please show some honesty on Adani too,” Ramesh said in a tweet in Hindi.
He also hit out at Union minister Bhupender Yadav, who attacked the Congress for raising questions on the Gujarat court convicting Rahul Gandhi in the criminal defamation case.
“Bhupendra Yadav should spend more time implementing environment and forest laws without fear or favour. Instead, he is busy defending Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi. These two have stolen thousands of crores of public money and are fugitives running from justice in India,” Ramesh said in a tweet in Hindi.
Gandhi was on Thursday sentenced to two years in jail by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his “why all thieves have Modi surname” remarks.
The court of chief judicial magistrate H H Varma, which held 52-year-old Gandhi guilty under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 499 and 500, also granted him bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court.
Gandhi can escape immediate disqualification as a member of parliament if the appellate court suspends the conviction as well as the two-year jail term.
