NEW DELHI: The BJP on Thursday asked Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi to apologise for the consistent campaign against Narendra Modi in encounter of Ishrat Jahan. The ruling party said it was now proved that Jahan was a Lashkar operative as it was revealed from David Headley’s testimony.
Union Home minister Rajnath Singh asked the Congress, Left and other opposition parties if they were prepared to apologise to the nation for their "malicious campaign" against Prime Minister
Narendra Modi over the killing of Ishrat Jehan in an encounter in Gujarat in 2004.
BJP also fielded its spokespersons to attack the then UPA government saying it weakened the fight against terrorism and politicised the issue.
BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain attacked the "secular brigade" and took a dig at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for using Ishrat's killing as an issue during then Bihar polls by terming her a 'Bihar ki beti'.
“If Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi have any "shame" left, then they must apologise to the nation,” BJP secretary Shrikant Sharma said in a press conference adding it was a , saying it was done to defame and fix Modi as part of a political conspiracy.
It is clear that she and her associates were on a mission to kill Modi and attack religious places, BJP leader said.
“Police personnel who fought terrorists risking their lives were put behind bars by the then UPA government and security agencies like CBI and IB were politicised...Headley's deposition that she was a LeT's suicide bomber has unmasked those who do politics over terrorism. We do not expect any morality from Congress. But if Sonia and her son Rahul Gandhi, who is a champion in politics of conspiracy, have any shame left, then they must apologise to the nation,” Sharma demanded.
Another party spokesperson, Nalin Kohli noted that LeT had portrayed her as a "martyr" on its website but "government agencies at that time were put at war with each other and attempts were made at fixing individuals... instead of finding the truth".
BJP also cited comments of Congress leaders questioning the Batla House encounter and their allusion to RSS hand in 26/11 Mumbai attack to attack the opposition party. "It has become clear that Congress played with national security. It is height of hate politics," he said.