In line of the Congress attack, the BJP on Saturday hit back saying going by the remarks of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi it seemed that they were not “accused in a case of corruption” but were some “freedom fighters”. It said the “Congress and corruption are made for each other” and when the BJP calls for ‘Congress-mukt’ India, it means a corruption-free India”.
For his part, senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy countered Congress’ charge that the Z-category security cover and a Government bungalow allotted to him were awards by the Modi dispensation for dragging the Gandhis to the court in the National Herald case.
He said it was, in fact, the Congress Government led by PV Naraismha Rao which had provided ‘Z’ category security to him but that was curtailed by the previous UPA Government and made applicable only in a few States. “When our (BJP) Government came, they said this is injustice and again provided me the security that had been given to me during Rao’s tenure. Now I don’t know if they (Congress) think Narasimha Rao was a BJP man,” he said.
Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi too rejected the charge saying many people are allotted house on security grounds and cited the example of Priyanka Gandhi. Naqvi said Congress leaders were “fighting for corruption in a shameful manner” by doing “drama” on road and asked the main Opposition party to refrain from politicising a court matter.
“We do not want to comment on what happened inside the court but we will like to speak on comments made and drama done outside.
There is always fight against corruption but this is the first time in the country’s history that we can see this fight for corruption, that too in a very shameful manner,” Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.
“The nation today saw their revolutionary conduct in support of corruption. It seemed that they were not accused in a case of corruption but some great freedom fighters who have hit the road,” he said adding those who are “dishonest” are being presented as people having made sacrifices.
Naqvi said the National Herald matter was totally about the Congress and the Gandhis were summoned by court and not BJP headquarters.”The BJP and the Government have nothing to do with it. They are doing politics over a matter of court,” he said, alleging that the Congress did not let run Parliament due to this.
He took a dig at Sonia over her remarks that they will not be “scared”, saying the Opposition party has no reason to be scared and should not scare the country as well.
Naqvi also mocked Rahul Gandhi’s attack on the Prime Minister, saying some people find it difficult to digest their food if they do not attack Modi for everything
He said the Congress remains “king of corruption” despite being in Opposition.