Amit Shah slams Rahul Gandhi's remarks, says will take issue to people

Asserting that BJP will go to the people over the issue of surgical strikes, BJP President Amit Shah on Friday lashed out at Rahul Gandhi over his 'dalali' barb at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of "crossing all limits" and "insulting" the army's bravery.

He said Congress was expressing Pakistan's despair instead of joining people's enthusiasm over surgical strikes.

Even as he insisted that the strikes should not be politicised, he made it clear that BJP will go to people over the issue to "boost the army's morale" and that the strikes underline the Modi government's zero tolerance policy against terrorism as well as its strong political will to take hard decisions.

With assembly elections due in several states, including Uttar Pradesh, the issue can come handy for the party.

Addressing a press conference, Shah also took potshots at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal saying he was the first one to cast doubts over the occurrence of surgical strikes and was trending on Twitter in Pakistan.

"#PakStandsWithKejriwal was a top trend in Pakistan. It itself shows who are benefiting from his efforts," he said.

He then went on to launch a blistering attack on the Congress vice president. "By making 'khoon ki dalali' remarks, Rahul Gandhi has crossed all limits. It was an extreme. By choosing such words, he insulted the bravery of our soldiers and 125 crore people of India."

Raking up a number of alleged scams under the UPA government, he said wryly that 'dalali' word is on Gandhi's mind as his party's government did 'dalali' in Bofors, Embraer, 2G and coal block allocation deals but the strikes were not an occasion for using such a term.

Suggesting that those casting doubts on the authenticity of surgical strikes are "anti-India" leaders, he said, "The whole country, BJP and its government are standing firmly behind the army. We do not believe in the comments of anti-India leaders. We believe in the army's bullets."

Rejecting the charge that BJP was using these strikes for political benefits, he said none of the top party leaders made any statement and it was the DGMO and not the Defence Minister who addressed a press conference to announce the army's cross- border attacks.

If a local level politician says or does something, it should not be seen as the party's stand, he said, adding that the whole country is happy and enthused by the development and so are BJP workers.

"The question is why you (Congress) are not happy, enthusiastic and proud of this. It shows there is some fundamental flaw in you.... Instead of joining people in their happiness, Congress party is expressing Pakistan's despair."

Asked if his party will make it an issue in the state elections, Shah treaded cautiously saying, "We do not want to politicise it but we will definitely take it to the people because boosting the army's morale is the duty of every responsible political party.

"These surgical strikes announce the Modi government's zero tolerance policy against terrorism... The achievement is of the army. The strong political will is of Prime Minister Narendra Modi."

Gandhi's comments have angered the people, he said.