BJP attacks Congress for calling Shah a "criminal"

New Delhi, Oct 7  The BJP on Friday lambasted the Congress for defending its Vice President Rahul Gandhi's "dalali" barb, and took strong exception to its party President Amit Shah being called a "criminal".

Addressing a press conference here, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that Congress was busy doing Rahul Gandhi 'Bhakti' (worship) and was not bothered about the interests of the country.

"Defending Rahul Gandhi is more important for the Congress than defending the country. What message does Rahul Gandhi want to convey by his remarks and the Congress by defending those remarks?" said Prasad. 

Prasad's media conference came subsequent to Congress leaders Kapil Sibal and Randeep Singh Surjewala holding a media meet where they slammed BJP chief Amit Shah who earlier in the day attacked Gandhi for accusing Modi of doing "dalali" (trading) over the blood shed by Indian soldiers.

"The people who have been to jail and who have murder cases against them are pointing fingers at others," Sibal had said launching a scathing attack on Shah and the BJP. 

Returning the fire, Prasad said: "BJP would also like to know from Congress how can they call Amit Shah a criminal?" 

"Everybody knows he was framed in pursuance of a conspiracy. Even the court did not frame the charges and held he was framed," said Prasad referring to the Sohrabuddin Sheikh and Tulsiram Prajapati fake encounters case in which Shah was alleged to be involved. 

Upping the ante, Prasad then raked up the National Herald case to hit out at Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul. 

"I want to ask Sibal what does he think of the Congress President and the Vice President who have been accused in a very big cheating case. What is his opinion about them?" asked Prasad in an obvious reference to the high profile case. 

Prasad also hit out at the Congress for holding BJP responsible for the creation of Pakistan based terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). 

"It is the (Pakistan spy agency) ISI who will be the happiest people on hearing these remarks. 

"Does the Congress realise the gravity of their irresponsible comments, do they realise that the principal opposition party has given a big handle to the ISI which is behind all these terrorist organisations? 

"These comments are highly unfortunate and we condemn them," said Prasad.

Sibal earlier in the day said that if the then BJP government had not released militant Maulana Masood Azhar in 1999, then JeM would not have taken birth.

Azhar in 2000 founded the JeM.

"The Congress has made irresponsible, below standard and highly condemnable remarks which warranted a reply. 

"We know Congress has a lot to hide in its cupboard but we will not mention about this because we don't indulge in petty politics," added Prasad.