BHARATIYA Janata Party President Amit Shah on Thursday accused Congress chief Rahul Gandhi of remaining silent after his party leader Mani Shankar Aiyar hurled abuses at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

 

 

Addressing a rally in Maharajganj, he termed Aiyar “guru ghantal” (shrewd). “Mani Shankar Aiyar used abusive words against PM Modi but Rahul baba remained silent,” Shah said. Aiyar had stirred a controversy recently through an article in a newspaper, reminding readers of his “neech aadmi” comment made against Modi in 2017. He was suspended from the party for his statement.

 

“Can anyone tolerate abusive words against the Prime Minister,” Shah asked voters. Referring to the Balakot airstrike, the Bharatiya Janata Party President claimed that while there was excitement in the country and people were distributing sweets, there was “mourning” at the offices of Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav.

“The glow on their faces had vanished as if their own had died,” he alleged.

 

Referring to Zakir Naik, Shah said the controversial Islamic preacher believed that if the Congress or the Mayawati-Akhilesh Yadav alliance came to power he would not be caught. Zakir Naik, now abroad, has been accused of delivering inflammatory speeches besides money laundering.