BJP questions presence of Imran Masood during Rahul Gandhi's padyatra

NEW DELHI: Under attack over the issue of intolerance, BJP today hit back at Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of practising double-standards as it questioned his presence with hate speech accused Imran Masood during his 'padyatra' in Saharanpur.

"Today he (Masood) is welcoming Rahul Gandhi and Rahul is happy to be welcomed. Rahul Gandhi please tell the nation what is your stand about what Imran Masood and all that he had uttered," BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said.

During the Lok Sabha election, Masood had said that he will "chop" Narendra Modi, then the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, into pieces and was subsequently arrested and jailed.

BJP secretary Shrikant Sharma accused Gandhi of having double-standards.

In his defence, Masood said he was not "communal", adding that he had apologised for his remarks.

"Who does not commit mistakes? I had apologised too. BJP spews venom against Muslims and Modiji remains silent," he said.

Sharma also made light of Gandhi's pro-farmers 'padyatra' saying the Congress leader had no right to talk about their interest as they had suffered the most during the 10-year UPA rule that saw a large number of suicides by farmers.

"When Congress was in power, it did little to help farmers. They were always under stress due to a host of issues, including shortage of urea. So many farmers committed suicide and now he is talking their welfare. He has no moral right to do so," Sharma said.

Instead of attacking the Modi government, Gandhi should introspect over the shrinking base of Congress and why it was losing everywhere and now forced to ride piggyback on a "corrupt" politician like Lalu Prasad, the BJP leader said.

The Centre had recently released Rs 6000 crore to sugar mills in Uttar Pradesh to pay farmers, he said.