The BJP and the Congress on Wednesday engaged in a verbal spat over Rahul Gandhi’s US trip. While the BJP said it may be a “forced vacation” for the Congress vice-president in view of the Bihar poll campaign, the Congress retorted accusing the ruling party of spreading “patent lies” and “canards”.
Taking a dig at Rahul, BJP spokesman Sambit Patra said it may be a “forced vacation” as, according to him, allies JD(U) and RJD wanted him out of the Bihar poll campaign. He said the Congress was now looking for a “face-saver” which was reflected from the “dichotomy” in its statements.
“It appears that the feedback the leaders of grand alliance got from Bihar made them call the Congress to send him on a forced vacation because his stay anywhere near Bihar is going to harm their electoral chances,” Patra said.
Mocking at the Congress’ explanation that Rahul will attend a conference in Aspen, US, the BJP spokesman said the Congress leader was an “expert without knowledge”.
The Congress, which had initially termed Rahul’s trip a personal one, countered saying the party vice-president has gone to the US to attend a conference ‘Weekend with Charlie Rose’ at Aspen Institute in Colorado. Hitting back at the BJP, Congress spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala said it was spreading “petty canards” as it was foreseeing its “imminent loss” in the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls.
“Rahul Gandhi is travelling to Aspen, US on a short visit to attend a conference. ‘Weekend with Charlie Rose’ is a conference where thought leaders from different walks of life like politics, finance, technology, media, medicine, sports etc gather to deliberate on multiple issues,” Surjewala said.
He said the BJP is seeing its “imminent loss” in Bihar elections and spreading of “petty canards” is being resorted to like RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat calling for review of reservation and BJP spokesperson “shooting themselves in the foot by spreading patent lies.”
Another Congress spokesman Sanjay Jha took to Twitter to attack the BJP. “Poor pathetic BJP; now like a cry-baby on a wet diaper protesting Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the USA. Grow up, imbecile and infantile!” he said.
“A combination of verbal diarrhea and mental constipation has hit the good doctor. Time for self-medication, pal!” Jha said targeting Patra who is a doctor by profession.