The BJP on Sunday slammed the Congress for its MP Shashi Tharoor’s criticism of the Modi Government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic at a Pakistan event and accused him of “demeaning and discrediting” India. The BJP wondered if Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wanted to contest elections in Pakistan.
Hitting back, the Congress said the BJP has always responded to substance and facts with “jumlebaazi” (rhetoric).
The BJP attacked Tharoor after he posted a link to the comments made online at Lahore Think Fest, which his office said was held last month. In the event, he criticised the Modi Government’s handling of the coronavirus and also spoke of alleged “bigotry and prejudice” against Muslims during the pandemic.
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra told reporters 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,” Patra said.
In a swipe at Rahul, Patra said he and the BJP will now call him “Rahul Lahori”. He is already a “hero” in China and Pakistan, Patra alleged.
Referring to Tharoor’’s remarks that Rahul had warned about the severity of the COVID-19 as early as in February and that he should be getting credit for it, Patra claimed that the Kerala MP was a close friend of the former Congress president and wondered if Rahul wanted to get credit in Pakistan and contest polls there.