Lowest form of politics, says BJP as Rahul targets Modi for 'humiliating' Advani

The BJP on Tuesday accused Rahul Gandhi of practising the 'lowest form of politics', after the Congress chief alleged that PM Modi does not give 'respect' to his 'guru' LK Advani.

File photo

New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of humiliating BJP veterans, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and LK Advani, saying that the BJP 'cuts down their own gurus'. The BJP hit back at Rahul accusing him of practising the 'lowest form of politics' and said that it was bizarre to see the president of the country's oldest party stoop to such a low.

"Ekalavya cut off his right thumb because his guru demanded it. In the BJP, they cut down their own gurus. Humiliating Vajpayee ji, Advani ji, Jaswant Singh ji and their families is the Prime Minister's way of protecting Indian culture," Rahul tweeted.

Ekalavya cut off his right thumb because his Guru demanded it.

In the BJP, they cut down their own Gurus. Humiliating Vajpayeeji, Advaniji, Jaswant Singhji and their families is the Prime Minister’s way of protecting Indian culture. pic.twitter.com/lqUtBtj0t8 — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 12, 2018

Earlier also, in Mumbai, Rahul on Tuesday had accused PM Modi of insulting his "mentor" Advani despite Hinduism teaching how a "guru" was the most important person in an individual's life. Addressing a rally of party workers, he had said that the Prime Minister did not treat his guru (Advani) with respect even at official functions.

"Everybody knows who is the guru and mentor of PM Modi - LK Advani. But the Prime Minister doesn't accord respect to him even at official functions. It is me who follows protocol and I am always with him (Advani) during (such) events. Today I feel very sad for Advani ji. The Congress party has given him more respect than Modi ji has," Rahul had said.

The Congress president had pointed out that his party fought and defeated Advani in 2004 and 2009 parliamentary elections. "Now it is the Congress and our party's ideology which give respect to Advani," he had said.

Rahul had added that he was the first to pay a visit to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee after his hospitalisation on Monday. "We believe Vajpayee has contributed to the country," he had said. 

Congress party fought against Vajpayee's govt, but when he was sick it was we who first visited him. This is the ideology of Congress party, we respect our opponents: Congress President @RahulGandhi #RahulGandhiInMumbai pic.twitter.com/5J7oVjpXlG — Congress (@INCIndia) June 12, 2018

We had contested against Vajpayee ji but when he is ill now I went to meet him on priority because I am a soldier of Congress. Vajpayee Ji had worked for our country and we respect him as he was the Prime Minister. This is our culture: Congress President Rahul Gandhi in Mumbai pic.twitter.com/GKxfrRa64K — ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2018

LK Advani has been the guru of PM Modi, but I have seen in events that PM Modi does not even respect his guru. Today I feel very sad for Advani ji. The Congress party has given him more respect than Modi Ji: Congress President Rahul Gandhi in Mumbai #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/xJoGAuDq3F — ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2018

प्रधानमंत्री जी हिंदू धर्म की बात करते हैं, हिंदू धर्म में गुरु से बड़ा कोई नहीं होता। प्रधानमंत्री के गुरु एल.के. आडवाणी थे और उनके गुरु की रक्षा कौन करता है? कांग्रेस पार्टी : कांग्रेस अध्यक्ष @RahulGandhi #RahulGandhiInMumbai — Congress (@INCIndia) June 12, 2018

BJP slams Congress chief for LK Advani comment, says Rahul Gandhi practising lowest form of politics 

BJP spokesperson Anil Baluni said that it was clear that Rahul has no link with Indian values as he keeps violating political and social norms. He referred to Congress leaders' criticism of former president Pranab Mukherjee for attending an RSS event and said that the country had seen how the party treated one of its veterans.

Rahul Gandhi has been trying to advise BJP on how to respect senior leaders, he should first of all answer on his ill-treatment to their own senior leaders, like PV Narasimha Rao & Pranab Mukherjee: Anil Baluni, BJP (file pic) pic.twitter.com/9S1o8snEBO — ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2018

Congress leaders had torn to pieces clothes of its then president Sitaram Kesari and thrown him out of his office, Baluni added, as he cited alleged mistreatment of former prime minister PV Narasimha Rao by his party to make his point, PTI reported.

"The Congress president is practising the lowest form of politics. He is violating our social and political norms. He does not even seem to know the kind of politics he is doing. The country is watching how the president of the oldest political party is behaving," Baluni said. 

(With Agency inputs)