Congress supporting forces which are trying to break the nation: BJP

In an scathing attack on Congress and its President Rahul Gandhi, the BJP on Friday said that the party is supporting the forces which are trying to break the country and has now designed its politics in "sync" with the terrorists and their patrons.

The BJP's attack came after Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad reportedly said that the Army operations in Jammu and Kashmir have killed more civilians than terrorists, triggering a controversy and prompting the Centre's ruling party to demand action against him.

Terming Azad's statement was "irresponsible, shameful and deeply regrettable", it asked the Congress leadership to clarify "what action they are planning" against him.

"This is a new Congress under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi and supported by Sonia Gandhi which is supporting the forces which are trying to break the country.

"It is BJP's charge with full sense of responsibility that the Congress of today led by Rahul Gandhi and blessed by Soniaji designed to make observations and behaviour in sync with the terrorists and their patrons," Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said at a press conference.

He said it was shocking that such a statement came from a person who has been Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and has witnessed the "brutal face of the terrorism in the state from Pakistan side".

"Given the senior Congress leaders' pathological hatred towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, they have stooped to this extent where they are seeking to compromise the courage and respect of the armed forces," Prasad said.

"This statement of Azad is irresponsible, shameful and deeply regrettable. Today the people who support and vouch for Pakistan would be more happier," he said, noting that after Azad's remarks, the Lashkar-e-Taiba outfit issued a statement saying "we have been of the same opinion as the ones expressed by Ghulam Nabi Azad and others".

"Today what the Congress leaders are saying is being supported by the LeT. What kind of politics is this? Congress is standing with those who are trying to break the country," said Prasad.

"What does he (Azad) mean to say? What is he indicating?" he asked, reminding the Congress leader that while all live for the country, only the police, paramilitary and armed forces die for the country.

The BJP leader said the party will raise this issue in parliament also.

Giving the statistics of the terrorists killed in Jammu and Kashmir by the armed forces between 2012 and 2018, Prasad said that in 2012, 72 terrorists were killed while in 2013, 67 terrorists were killed.

"In 2014, when our government came, 110 terrorists were killed, in 2015, 108 terrorists were killed, in 2016, 150 terrorists were killed, in 2017, over 217 and till May this year, over 75 terrorists have been killed in the state.

"Azadji, this is the story of your government and this is the story of our government. And you are saying that forces are killing locals more than the terrorists," he said.

Referring to the reported comments of Congress leader Saifuddin Soz that the people of Kashmir would prefer independence, the BJP leader said that Congress have kept the national interest in back seat.

"The pathological hatred against Narendra Modi and deepening hatred against the BJP has become the corner stone of the politics of Congress where at times the national interest takes back seat.

"But what to expect from the Congress," he said adding that it was Rahul Gandhi who went to the JNU and stood with the "Azadi gang" and he questioned the government on the surgical strike and charged the government of "Khoon ki Dalali".

He asked Rahul Gandhi if he would show courage to act against Azad and Soz.

--IANS

bns-aks/vd