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BJP, Congress lock horns over Khurshid`s `impotent` remark on Narendra Modi
A bitter war of words has begun between the country`s two main political parties after senior Congress leader and Union External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid called BJP`s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi `impotent` for failing to stop the 2002 communal riots in Gujarat.
Zee Media Bureau/Ritesh K Srivastava
New Delhi: A bitter war of words has begun between the country`s two main political parties after senior Congress leader and Union External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid called BJP`s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi `impotent` for failing to stop the 2002 communal riots in Gujarat.
Khurshid`s remarks have evoked sharp reactions from the main opposition party, which has now hit back, saying the incident shows the growing frustration in the Congress and that its Union Minister has lost his mental balance.
BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain tweeted on Wednesday, “Filthy words used 4 political opponent, seems foreign education has taken away Indian values of `Tehzeeb` & `Tameez` frm Sh Salman Khurshid.”
“Is the language used by Sh Salman Khurshid a reflection of the so called guidance being given to Congress leaders by Sh Rahul Gandhi?” the BJP leader asked. Condemning Khurshid for his highly objectionable remarks, another BJP leader Yatin Oza said, “I really feel pity on them rather than commenting. I think he has lost his mental balance. Such comments are never welcome. This shows there frustration."
Modi`s close aide and Gujarat Minister Jay Narayan Vyas also reacted to Khurshid`s "absolutely indecent comment" and said it reflected the "frustration" of the Congress leaders ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
"They are so frustrated that they have lost control over their mind and tongue," Vyas, who is spokesman for the Gujarat government said, and recalled Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar`s tea seller jibe at Modi.
BJP leader Sudhanshu Mittal said he was saddened at the kind of language coming from somebody who claims himself to be educated and observed it is "debasement of politics" of the worst kind.
The External Affairs Minister`s fresh salvo against the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate at a rally here came as he raised questions on the Gujarat Chief Minister`s handling of the post-Godhra riots in 2002. Khurshid had once compared Modi to the proverbial frog just out of the well. Without taking the name of Modi, Khurshid, who is a sitting MP from Farrukhabad, asked why a man who aspires to be the prime minister of the country could not do anything during the 2002 riots.
"Some people came, attacked and went, and you couldn`t protect. Are you not a strong man?," the senior Congress leader asked.
"We don`t accuse you (Modi) of killing people... Hamara aarop hai ki tum `napunsak`(impotent) ho. (Our accusation is that you are impotent). You couldn`t stop the killers," he added.
New Delhi: A bitter war of words has begun between the country`s two main political parties after senior Congress leader and Union External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid called BJP`s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi `impotent` for failing to stop the 2002 communal riots in Gujarat.
Khurshid`s remarks have evoked sharp reactions from the main opposition party, which has now hit back, saying the incident shows the growing frustration in the Congress and that its Union Minister has lost his mental balance.
BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain tweeted on Wednesday, “Filthy words used 4 political opponent, seems foreign education has taken away Indian values of `Tehzeeb` & `Tameez` frm Sh Salman Khurshid.”
“Is the language used by Sh Salman Khurshid a reflection of the so called guidance being given to Congress leaders by Sh Rahul Gandhi?” the BJP leader asked. Condemning Khurshid for his highly objectionable remarks, another BJP leader Yatin Oza said, “I really feel pity on them rather than commenting. I think he has lost his mental balance. Such comments are never welcome. This shows there frustration."
Modi`s close aide and Gujarat Minister Jay Narayan Vyas also reacted to Khurshid`s "absolutely indecent comment" and said it reflected the "frustration" of the Congress leaders ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
"They are so frustrated that they have lost control over their mind and tongue," Vyas, who is spokesman for the Gujarat government said, and recalled Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar`s tea seller jibe at Modi.
BJP leader Sudhanshu Mittal said he was saddened at the kind of language coming from somebody who claims himself to be educated and observed it is "debasement of politics" of the worst kind.
The External Affairs Minister`s fresh salvo against the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate at a rally here came as he raised questions on the Gujarat Chief Minister`s handling of the post-Godhra riots in 2002. Khurshid had once compared Modi to the proverbial frog just out of the well. Without taking the name of Modi, Khurshid, who is a sitting MP from Farrukhabad, asked why a man who aspires to be the prime minister of the country could not do anything during the 2002 riots.
"Some people came, attacked and went, and you couldn`t protect. Are you not a strong man?," the senior Congress leader asked.
"We don`t accuse you (Modi) of killing people... Hamara aarop hai ki tum `napunsak`(impotent) ho. (Our accusation is that you are impotent). You couldn`t stop the killers," he added.