BJP targets Tharoor for criticising Swaraj speech at UNGA

SEEKING APOLOGY FROM RAHUL GANDHI FOR THAROOR’S REMARKS, BJP SAID SWARAJ’S UNGA SPEECH WAS INDIA’S STATEMENT AND NOT THAT OF A PARTY

NEWDELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday attacked the Congress and its senior leader Shashi Tharoor for criticising external affair minister Sushma Swaraj’s recent speech at the United Nations General Assembly, stating that the Opposition party, in its bid to corner the ruling party, was hurting the country’s interests.

Tharoor had described Sushma’s speech as “disappointing” and said it was aimed at only appeasing the ruling party’s voters, particularly on Pakistan, instead of enhancing India’s global image.

“Today, [Rahul] Gandhi’s Congress has lost the moral right to claim the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi’s Congress,” BJP spokesman Sudhanshu Trivedi said at a press conference. “We would want Gandhi to apologise.”

Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala was quick to respond. “For those in power, [Mahatma] Gandhi’s thought is just a lip service. Those in power murder Gandhi’s thought. They swear by Gandhi only for optics and photo-ops,” he said.

In her UNGA speech, Swaraj said India made many efforts to hold talks with Pakistan and the only reason New Delhi has called off dialogue is because of Islamabad’s behaviour

“Swaraj’s speech at the UNGA was India’s statement and not that of any political party,” Trivedi said.

“Entire nation wants India to talk tough against Pakistan. Which force in the country wants India to take a soft line towards Pakistan?”

Trivedi said Pakistan questioned the surgical strikes conducted by the India army and Rahul Gandhi, too, asked for proof. Mahatma Gandhi spoke of Ram Rajya and the Congress government in an affidavit before the Supreme Court in 2007 questioned the existence of lord Ram, Trivedi said.

“Facts show that Congress is seen doing a jugalbandi with Pakistan,” he said. “There is not a single Congress leader, other than Lala Lajpat Rai, who went to jail, got injured or was hanged during the freedom struggle. The Congress’ claim of monopoly over freedom movement needs to be revisited.”