Amritsar (Punjab) [India], September 21 : After Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday defended his remarks on Sikhs and other sections of Indian society in the US, BJP leader Shezad Poonawalla claimed that the Leader of Opposition (LoP) was "brazenly" defending his remarks and justifying them.
In a self-made video, the BJP leader says, "Chori aur upar se seenazori. This is what Rahul Gandhi does. Instead of apologising for his remarks, when the entire Sikh community has been reacting to his remarks in the US and expressing outrage, Rahul Gandhi is brazenly defending his remarks and justifying it."
"No Sikh community is supporting Rahul Gandhi. The support is coming from the 'seek for justice' banned group. Rahul Gandhi did not once condemn the support from Pannun and he has been admiring that support so much so that he has been repeating all that he said all over again," said Poonawalla.
"Is there any limit to hypocrisy? The Congress only wants the support of the seek for justice group and that is why these things are being repeated, to instigate and to divide and rule, this is the target of Rahul Gandhi," he added.
Former Union Minister Anurag Thakur also targeted the Lok Sabha LoP saying he only gets support from Anti-India forces.
"The language of Congress, Rahul Gandhi and Pakistan's Defence Minsiter is the same. Their intentions look similar as well which is anti-India. He gets the support of 'tukde-tukde gang', gets them in their party and meets anti-India forces when go abroad," Anurag Thakur said.
Earlier in the day, Congress leader Rahul Gandh defended his remarks pertaining to Sikhs and other sections of Indian society, made during his visit to the United States, and accused the BJP of resorting to lies and making desperate attempts to silence him.
Rahul Gandhi said he will always speak up for the values that define India."I want to ask every Sikh brother and sister in India and abroad: Is there anything wrong with what I have said? Shouldn't India be a country where every Sikh--and every Indian--can freely practice their religion without fear?" he asked.
"As usual, the BJP is resorting to lies. They are desperate to silence me because they cannot stand the truth. But I will always speak up for the values that define India: our unity in diversity, equality, and love," he added.
The Congress leader also posted a clip of the speech he made in the US.
A war of words has erupted between Congress and BJP leaders over Rahul Gandhi's remarks. Union Minister and BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu termed Rahul Gandhi as the "country's number 1 terrorist," drawing strong condemnation from Congress. Congress leaders slammed Bittu and some other leaders from NDA over "threatening language" against Rahul Gandhi.
Congress leaders KC Venugopal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi said at a press conference that the party will take legal recourse and ensure that all those miscreants are punished severely.
BJP leaders have come down heavily over Rahul Gandhi's remarks made during his visit to the US earlier this month.