Cong hits back at Naik for loafer barb, calls him 'bootleger'

A day after Goa BJP spokesman Dattaprasad Naik termed Congress president Rahul Gandhi a "loafer", opposition party MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco today hit back at the BJP leader calling him a "bootlegger".

Naik had yesterday called Gandhi a loafer for winking during a debate on the no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha last week.

"Naik's party (BJP) has lost credentials and lost touch with human nature. Naik is a bootlegger," Lourenco told reporters on the sidelines of ongoing monsoon session of the state Assembly today.

Lourenco, who represents Curtorim Assembly segment in South Goa, said Gandhi was neither involved in any illegal activities nor any kind of crime.

"BJP has called Rahul Gandhi a lot of names, but he has been decent enough. He is the best human being India has ever produced," he said.

"It is high time the BJP understands the messages. The BJP is a party that is spreading hatred," the MLA said.

In a statement released yesterday, Naik had said, "I would request the Goa Congress to support their central party office in finding a credible leader for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as their President Rahul Gandhi is finding it difficult to grab headlines and had to stoop down to cheap gimmicks."