Punj counters Sibal, says 'BJP doesn't take non-serious players of Congress seriously'

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Vice-President Balbir Punj on Friday hit back at Communications and IT Minister Kapil Sibal for challenging his party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi to a debate, and said the opposition does not take challenges put by non-serious players of the Congress seriously.

Punj said Sibal's challenge is a non-serious offer because only Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her son party's Vice-President Rahul Gandhi are of importance in the ruling party.

"We all know that in Congress party only mother and son count either it is Mrs. Sonia Gandhi or Mr. Rahul Gandhi. So, if they are willing except the challenge the people who actually mean anything in Congress then we will be very happy to accept it," said Punj.

"But Mr. Kapil Sibal like rest of rest the Congressmen, like the prime minister they are non serious players, so we don't take challenges put by non serious players seriously," he added.

Sibal earlier in the day criticized Modi for repeatedly raising slogans of a 'Congress free India, and challenged him to a debate on any issue of national interest.

"Why to free the country from Congress? What has the Congress done? And today, I challenge Modi for a debate on any issue on any platform and in any language, be it Hindi, English or Gujarati. I challenge him to decide the day, the subject, place and language so that all is clear," Sibal told media here.

"But he will not be able to do so because he has not held any press conference yet then what will he debate with me. Have you heard him in any press conference? He just goes and delivers his speech from the podium," he added.

Modi has so far in his elections speeches issued a call for ousting the Congress, terming the party a 'burden' on the nation. He has also criticized the Congress-led UPA Government's foreign policy.