RS Prasad questions Rahul's silence over 'Muslim party' remark

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has questioned Congress president Rahul Gandhi's silence over his "Congress is a Muslim party" remark.

Speaking to ANI, the minister said that Rahul's statement on Muslims is purely inspired by vote bank politics.

"What Rahul Gandhi has said (Congress is a pro-Muslim party) fits the pattern when he had earlier said saffron or Hindu terror is more dangerous than LeT. It's purely inspired by vote bank politics. Therefore, we want Rahul Gandhi to answer," Prasad said.

The Congress chief has been facing flak for a statement "Yes, Congress is a Muslim party," which he reportedly made at a meeting with Muslim intellectuals and activists on July 11.

However, the Congress has said that Rahul had never made this statement and rubbished the report of an Urdu newspaper which quoted Rahul saying, "Yes, Congress is a Muslim party".

"This is absolute lies&shameful spin by the newspaper. The BJP using it to further its own agenda, yet again, exposes their desperate tactics to mislead the nation. However this will not deter us to fight for India's founding principles& its democratic values," Congress leader Priyanka Chaturvedi had tweeted.

However, Rahul has not made any clarification over the issue as yet.