Congress takes pot shots at BJP over Gadkari issue

NEW DELHI: Congress today took potshots at BJP which faced a turmoil over the controversies surrounding its chief Nitin Gadkari but refrained from seeking his resignation saying it was that party's internal matter.

"BJP has alwyas spoken with a double tongue because they have dual memberships. Unless they become members of RSS, they cannot be members of BJP. That is the normal practice there," Congress spokesperson Renuka Chowdhary said.

Asked whether Congress will demand the resignation of Gadkari, Chowdhary said it is BJP's "internal" matter which the party itself will decide.

"When the charges are proved, law will apply to all and sundry. At this moment, the BJP is seized of the matter."

Party leaders, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it was Narendra Modi versus Gadkari, which is manifesting in such developments, when asked about Ram Jethmalani's demand of the immediate resignation of Gadkari with the claim that three other senior leaders, including Jaswant Singh and Yashwant Sinha, were with him on the issue.

Jethmalani, who had first demanded Gadkari's resignation last month, said Gadkari should not be given another term as President since it would harm the party in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

The recent BJP national council meeting had amended the party's constitution to give Gadkari get a second term.

Ram Jethmalani's son Mahesh, who is also an eminent lawyer, had yesterday quit BJP national executive, saying he cannot be associated with it as long as Gadkari remains the party President.