Congress praises Vajpayee, criticizes Narendra Modi; BJP hits back

NEW DELHI: Stoking a fresh political war, Congress on Friday praised ex-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on its website, saying that no leader in BJP can match his stature. Stating that 'there is nobody to remind BJP of its 'Rajdharma', Congress said, "BJP seems to have forgotten Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the man who wanted Shri Modi out."

"Having found a new icon in Modi, the BJP is working hard to distance itself from the Vajpayee legacy," the party charged.

"NDA was defeated by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance in 2004. Shri Vajpayee was clear what was the reason for the defeat: Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi's failure to control the communal pogrom in his state in 2002," said Congress on its website. "He believed that the party will lose its credibility unless it took action against Shri Modi," the party added.

"Towards the last ebb of the Gujarat riots, Shri Vajpayee urged Shri Modi to "observe Rajdharma and not discriminate on the basis of caste, creed or religion". It is evident that Shri Vajpayee believed that the Gujarat CM had been not only inept but downright partisan in his handling of the riots," Congress said.
(Below is the screenshot of picture posted on Congress website)


The Congress said Vajpayee believed that the party will lose its credibility unless it took action against Modi.

"Some people wanted to remove him. I was of the same opinion," said Vajpayee in Manali at that time.

"This is confirmed by Jaswant Singh, who held key portfolios in the NDA government.He had said that in 2002 Vajpayee had even threatened to resign unless the BJP took action against Modi," it said.


Watch: BJP reacts to Cong's praise for Vajpayee, terms Cong confused



Responding sharply to Congress' dig at its Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, BJP called Congress a 'confused party'. "They are facing leadership crisis & are without direction," BJP said.

"Earlier Congress used to say Vajpayee ji is good but BJP bad, now they say BJP good but Modi bad. They are very confused," said MA Naqvi of BJP. "Congress has become intellectually bankrupt," Naqvi hit out.

(With inputs from PTI)