Headlines
BJP running malicious campaign against Rahul: Congress
New Delhi, Sep 23
The Congress on Wednesday
termed as a "motivated and malicious campaign" the BJP's allegation
against Rahul Gandhi that he was sent on a "forceful vacation", and said
the BJP was resorting to spreading petty canards because it sees its
"imminent loss in the Bihar election".
"The Congress party in a
written statement, yesterday (Tuesday), had clearly stated that Congress
vice president Rahul Gandhi is travelling to Aspen, US on a short visit
to attend a conference.
"The conference is expected to be
attended by global leaders from various domains, both from government
and private sectors. We reject all rumours stating otherwise," the party
said in a statement issued here.
Congress spokesperson Randeep
Singh Surjewala said the statement "leaves little scope for confusion in
anybody's mind and any confusion whatsoever was squarely in the minds
of the BJP spokespersons, who were scared of the impending defeat in the
Bihar election, and were spinning yarns of white lies".
"Seeing
its imminent loss in the Bihar election, the BJP is resorting to
spreading petty canards ranging from statements qua review of
reservation by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat to spokespersons shooting
themselves in the foot by spreading patent lies," he said.
The Congress also gave details of the conference Gandhi was attending in the US.
"It
is reiterated that the said conference known as 'Weekend with Charlie
Rose' is an internationally renowned private conference organised and
piloted by famous journalist Charlie Rose, who apart from other things
recently interviewed the Russian President Vladmir Putin," the statement
added.
The BJP took potshots at Gandhi for going on a foreign
trip ahead of the Bihar assembly election. It said Gandhi was asked to
stay away by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu
Prasad.
"Rahul Gandhi has all the right to go for a vacation as
in recent days he has worked hard for the party and has addressed few
rallies...," BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra told reporters.
"Gandhi has been sent for a forceful vacation as Nitish and Lalu were not comfortable with his presence in Bihar," he said.