BJP attacks Rahul for criticising start-up initiative

BJP today mocked Rahul Gandhi over his criticism of the NDA government's start-up initiative, saying the Congress Vice President himself was a start-up but was unable to find an exit route and also questioned his silence on the 'jungle raaj' in Bihar and Malda violence.
The party also raked up Congress leader and former Law Minister Hansraj Bhardwaj's claim that he was "pressurised" by the then UPA government to get a favourable decision from the Supreme Court on the imposition of the President's rule in Bihar, saying it underlined the party's desire to keep all the institutions "in its pocket" and sought Rahul's response.

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra targeted Gandhi over his "negative" politics, saying he tried to create an atmosphere against the Modi government's ambitious start-up initiative by linking it with the issue of intolerance.
"It's (start-up) a campaign for nation-building but he wanted to topple it before it had begun. The way he tried to create an atmosphere even before it had begun shows his negativity and intolerance. He himself is a start-up who had an easy entry but is not finding an exit route," Patra said at a press conference.
Gandhi had said in Mumbai on January 16, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the 'start-up India' mission in the national capital, that start-ups and intolerance cannot go together.

Accusing the Congress leader of being "selective" in his remarks on 'intolerance', Patra questioned his "silence" on Malda violence and death of an IAF official during the Republic Day rehearsal in West Bengal when a car allegedly being driven by a ruling TMC leader's son run him over.

"What happened in Malda is a matter of national security. Rahul Gandhi does not see any intolerance in these issues. In Bihar, the reality of jungle raaj is before us as engineers, doctors and jewellers were being killed for ransom. He does not say anything," the BJP spokesperson said.
Referring to controversial claims of Bhardwaj, Patra said the veteran Congress leader had spoken on an issue of extreme importance.

"Can we imagine the level of interference Congress wanted? This is the nature, character of Congress. It has always conspired to make the three organs of democracy (legislative, executive and judiciary) committed (to it)," he said, citing Sanjaya Baru's book to allege that important files were vetted by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and her "kitchen cabinet" National Advisory Council interfered in law-making.
"It is a big charge in our political history. Because the allegation comes from the horse's mouth? Why are you silent? Congress should be tolerant to its own people and reply to the people of India," he said, alleging that the opposition party had gone for "judge-shopping" in the National Herald case.