The Congress on Wednesday termed as “irresponsible” the remarks of BJP president Amit Shah in which he questioned whether the Opposition party was contesting elections in India or Pakistan. The Congress said it does not need any certificate from the ruling party on patriotism.
It also described as “shocking” the demand of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for premature release of 13 convicted terrorists and asked BJP to break its alliance with Akali Dal besides sacking its Minister in the Union Government. Congress leader and former Union Minister Anand Sharma said when it comes to the challenge of terrorism, the Congress has always been at the forefront and maintains that the country must stand united to fight it.
Shah had slammed the Congress for raising doubts over the Pakistani boat incident and had asked the Opposition party whether it was fighting elections in India or Pakistan. Targeting the Government over the boat issue, Sharma said, “Within the Government there has to be a policy. look at the statements of the Defence Minister and the Home Minister.” “It confirms arrogance and also portrays the ruling party as irresponsible. You cannot talk this about the Indian National Congress, which has a long history of serving the nation, right from the freedom struggle and post independence. We also have a history of fighting terrorism and making the supreme sacrifices. Our leaders including Indira and Rajiv Gandhi were martyred. We don’t need a certificate on patriotism either from Amit Shah, the BJP or the RSS,” Sharma said.
AICC spokesperson Abishek Manu Singhvi contended that Badal’s demand was a “serious matter” and alleged that it was being done “at the behest of the Babbar Khalsa international.” Badal has written to Chief Ministers of five states, asking for premature release of 13 convicted terrorists, including those responsible for assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh. He sought to corner the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi by wanting to know whether the ruling party would “dissociate” itself from the Akali Dal and remove its representative from the Central Cabinet forthwith.