Beni calls Modi murderer, BJP says Congress campaign at nadir

Congress leader Beni Prasad Verma Sunday got the BJP's hackles up by alleging its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi had fled from home at the age of 18 after committing murder. In a strong rejoinder, the BJP demanded the Congress clarify whether it supported the charge.

The union steel minister, speaking in Lucknow, alleged that Modi committed murder at the age of 18 and ran away from home. He also alleged that several criminal cases were registered against Modi at police stations in Gujarat, but he "took care of them" when he became the chief minister.

Reacting, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said here that Verma's allegations showed that the Congress' poll campaign has reached "an absolute nadir... the lowest point that one can reach".

She termed Verma "a history-sheeter" as he is a "repeat offender at every election campaign".

"Beni Prasad Verma's allegations are despicable and baseless; and he acknowledges he does not have proof to back his allegation," said Sitharaman.

"We demand the Congress say whether they stand by Beni in his speech," she said, adding that his speech highlighted that the "Congress' hypocrisy and frustration is increasing in election time" as they knew they were on a shaky ground.