BK Hariprasad faces BJP Ire for anti-Amit Shah remarks

New Delhi: In a strong reaction to the remarks by Congress MP BK Hariprasad against their party chief Amit Shah who is suffering from swine flu and undergoing treatment at AIIMS, BJP said while flu is curable, mental illness of the main opposition is difficult to treat. The ruling party said this shows the frustration of the Congress.

"The kind of ugly and indece nt comments Congress MP B K Hariprasad have made about BJP president Amit Shah's health show the standards of the Congress. Flu is curable but it is difficult to cure Congress leaders' mental illness," Railway minister Piyush Goyal said. Hariprasad had made adverse comments about Shah's health, saying he contracted swine flu since his party made an alleged bid to destabilise the Congress-JDS government in Karnataka. Several other BJP leaders also slammed Hariprasad on the issue.

"This is a completely abhorrent and ugly statement. They don't even have the basic decency as to how to react to a person's illness," Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.


Information and Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore described the remarks as a "cheap statement" but added that he was not surprised to see Congress leaders completely abandon decency and dignity. Such comments also show the frustration of the Congress leadership, he added.

BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao said Hariprasad's comments show the "moral degeneration" of the Congress, its complete "bankruptcy" of thoughts and "lack of moral values".

"The fact that the Congress leadership is silent on Hariprasad comments clearly establishes all such toxic comments have sanction of the leadership. And if they want to really disapprove of his remarks, Rahul Gandhi should sack Hariprasad and should make him apologise publicly to Amit Shah," Rao said.

Another party spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain described Hariprasad's remarks as "shameful", saying this is the real face of the Congress.

BJP Media Department head Anil Baluni said Shah is recovering well and will be discharged in a day or two.

Party spokesperson Sambit Patra said Hariprasad's remarks show double standards of the Congress.

"This is a new low in Indian politics. Hariprasad's remarks expose the distasteful, disrespectful and disgraceful attitude of the Congress party. This shows the frustration of the Congress and exposes Congress culture," Patra said.