BJP mounts attack on Cong over Ahmed Patel's 'deep relations'

The BJP today stepped up attack on the Congress, alleging its senior leader Ahmed Patel's "deep relations" with a Gujarat hospital where an alleged ISIS operative had worked before his arrest.
Union minister and senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi demanded an explanation from party president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi on the issue.
Patel had "deep relations" with the hospital since 1979, Naqvi said at a press briefing at the BJP headquarters here, adding that Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi owe an explanation to the people.
"It is not mere coincidence that Patel had deep relations with a hospital that also had links with terrorists," he said.

Two suspected ISIS operatives were arrested by the Gujarat Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) three days ago. According to an FIR, one of the accused, Kasim Stimberwala, earlier worked as a technician at Sardar Patel Hospital in Ankleshwar town of Bharuch district.
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani had yesterday alleged that a suspected ISIS operative arrested recently used to work at the hospital where Patel had been a trustee earlier.
Naqvi said that the BJP held national security above politics and claimed that the party was not trying to malign the Congress in view of the Gujarat Assembly polls.