BJP needles Congress over debate challenge

The BJP Friday took a dig at the Congress over Law Minister Kapil Sibal's challenge to Narendra Modi to a public debate, saying it had come not from Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi but his "followers".

Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain referred to Sibal's challenge to Modi and said that Congress leaders had to make up for the "loss to the party due to Gandhi's speeches".

"Chelas (followers) are getting ready for debate. Everyday, a minister comes forward. First it was Manish Tewari, today it is Sibal," Hussain said.

Attacking Sibal, Hussain said the minister had come up with the "zero loss" theory in the controversial 2G spectrum allocation. "This was done while the investigation was still on," Hussain said.

Hussain claimed that Gandhi's speeches cause "loss and loss" to the Congress and Sibal had come out with new statistics to divert the attention of people.

"Whenever Rahul Gandhi makes a speech, the Congress has to follow up with clarifications for a week afterwards," Hussain said.

"Why has he (Sibal) not come out with statistics on price rise, corruption, terrorism and soldiers killed on the border?" the BJP leader asked.

Sibal Friday challenged Modi to a public debate and said the Gujarat chief minister, who is also the prime minister candidate of the BJP, is a man with no leader-like vision.