Tricolour row: Congress raking up controversy where none exists, says BJP

NEW DELHI: BJP today accused Congress of "raking up a contoversy where none exists" and making "irrelevent and unwarranted" comments on Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the opposition party took potshots at him over signing a national flag during his US visit.

BJP also used the issue to take at dig at Congress top brass, alleging the party was trying to "cover up" their "absence" due to their "holidaying" abroad by its "petty and narrow" criticism of Modi.

"Congress is becoming pettier by raising such issues and raking up a controversy where none exists," BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimhra Rao said.

"There is nothing really for Congress to create a controversy. It is doing so to cover up the absence of its entire leadership which is holidaying abroad in the garb of attending conferences. It will do well to focus its attention on locating Rahu Gandhi who has gone missing," he said.

Rao said Congress was frustrated with increasing popularity of Modi and therefore "making unwarranted and irrelevent" remarks about him on every issue.

BJP's reaction came after Modi autographed an Indian flag in New York to be gifted to President Barack Obama, evoking sharp reaction from Congress which said "However high you may be, the national flag is above you, you should understand this".