Cong has always fought terror, BJP bowed before it: Shukla

Hitting back at Narendra Modi for his comments that Congress has given Indian Mujahideen a "free hand" to settle political scores, Union Minister Rajiv Shukla today said his party has lost several leaders to terrorism, but BJP leaders have never suffered a scratch.

The Congress has always fought terrorism and has lost many of its leaders, including former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, while BJP has bowed before it, Shukla told reporters here.

Referring to the Air India hostage situation at Kandahar in Afghanistan in 1999, he said, "NDA ministers took terrorists safely to Kandahar and paid Taliban to release Indian passengers (who were held hostage)."

"On what basis is Narendra Modi (BJP's prime ministerial candidate) saying that Congress is giving a free hand to terror outfits?" Shukla asked, and warned the BJP leader to think well before making such allegations.

On the demand for banning opinion polls, the minister said the poll panel was seeking suggestions about them and Congress had only given its opinion. He said BJP was specialist at changing it colours.

Addressing a rally at Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh, Modi had alleged that terror outfit Indian Mujahideen was being given a "free hand" to settle political scores with him and save "Congress' fortress" in elections.