Rahul Gandhi should apologise for remarks against Swaraj: BJP

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said that if there was no apology, a criminal defamation case against Gandhi would be filed

BJP today threatened to file criminal defamation case against Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi for terming External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's actions in the Lalit Modi issue as a "criminal act".

"Rahul Gandhi using these words is very unfortunate, undemocratic. And because of these words, I am demanding that Rahul Gandhi should make an apology to the country because it is not only defaming Sushma Swaraj, but defaming the Foreign Minister of the country, who is the representative of India in the world," Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said.

"If Rahul Gandhi does not apologise, then it is a serious problem. We will have to file criminal defamation case against him," the BJP leader said while describing Gandhi's remarks against Swaraj as "childish" and "immature politics".

Stressing that allegations against Swaraj were "baseless", he said that she had not violated the law, constitution or indulged in any corrupt activities.

"Allegations against Sushma Swaraj are all are baseless. She has neither violated any law nor our constitution. She has not indulged in any corrupt or illegal activity. She is a very prominent leader of the country," Gadkari said.

Speaking on the Lalit Modi controversy, Gandhi had said, "What we have said is that (there will be) no discussion without resignation. Sushma has done a criminal act. He (Lalit Modi) is a 'fugitive'. You have signed it (the recommendation for grant of travel document). The High Commission does not know about it. The Indian government too in unaware of that."