In bullish mode, Congress, BJP lock horns on AgustaWestland

Adopting bullish approaches, both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress used different venues in the national capital on Friday to galvanise their workers to take on each other over the AgustaWestland copter matter and other issues that have stalled proceedings in parliament.

While the grand old party is leading a march from Jantar Mantar to the Parliament, the BJP organised a sit at Ghyara Murti, a reminder of Mahatma Gandhi's famed march to Dandi in the 1930s.

Congress leader Sachin Pilot, who is protesting against the ruling party said that the BJP is trying to weaken states where with Congress government, not just that Congress is being targeted by CBI and ED.

"BJP has destroyed the roots of democracy. They have attempted to remove congress governments from states. Under Sonia and Rahul Gandhi we want to show BJP real mirror. We are protesting here to give answers to the government. The protest 'loktantra bachao march' we are taking to save the democracy. The BJP is destroying the image of Congress. Ed and other agencies are targeting Congress. Sonia Gandhi has asked for investigation," he added.

Senior Congress leader and former Union minister Kamal Nath said that BJP counter protesting against the grand old party are the 'diversionary tactics' of the Centre.

"The democracy has been murdered. This is what BJP is attempting to do. The issue of AgustaWestland was brought to light by Congress, Congress only ordered the probe. What has BJP done in last two years in this case? These are diversionary tactics of the govt. Even the Italian government has said that it is for the Indian Government to probe the matter," he said.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi government and Modi himself are doing schemes against the Congress party.

"At one side they are destroying elected government & at another point they are threatening the former chief minister.Modi government and Modi are doing schemes against Congress. No investigation they have done against AgustaWestland to which they call bogus company," Surjewala said.

"Farmers are committing suicide, there is drought in nation, Modi government is sleeping. They should wake up and smell the coffee: The people are fighting the drought situation and Modi government is sleeping nicely.To wake them up this protest is happening under Sonia and Rahul Gandhi," he added.

Congress Uttarakhand state chief Kishore Upadhyay accused the BJP of conspiring against Uttarakhand former chief minister Harish Rawat.

"This is Modi bureau of investigation. They murdered democracy and to safeguard themselves they conspired against Harish Rawat. We have full faith in judiciary," he added.

Meanwhile, to ensure a parallel show of strength the BJP members counters the Congress and sits in a protest against corruption of the grand old party near the Gandhi Statute here.

"They (Congress) have nothing to say. It is the democracy of this country that we are debating in parliamentary freely. The Defense Minister of that time said himself that there is scam. During the Congress regime this scam happened and they did not do anything. They have tried to hide their scams and that is why they are protesting here," said BJP leader bhupendra yadav.