Congress party president Sonia Gandhi today lambasted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for playing up the bogey of terrorism to justify its radical Hindutva card.
Vadodara, Dec 13 : Congress party president Sonia Gandhi today lambasted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for playing up the bogey of terrorism to justify its radical Hindutva card.
"The BJP is only trying to garner votes by using the bogey of terrorism. Is it necessary to remind those who accuse us of being soft on terrorism that Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi (former Congress prime ministers) had lost their loves at the hands of terrorists," Sonia said while addressing an election rally in Dabhoi area of Vadodara.
She went on to say that the party (BJP) who freed dreaded terrorists and whose foreign minister took them to Afghanistan must not charge the Congress with being soft on terrorism.
She also said that the BJP was portraying a false picture of the development in the state.
At an election rally in Jamnagar District on December 4, Modi had admitted that Sohrabuddin's encounter did happen in Gujarat, saying the latter got what he deserved.
"Yes, Sohrabuddin's encounter happened in Gujarat, and if Sonia Gandhi wants, she can hang me for this," said Modi.
Sohrabuddin was reportedly gunned down on November 26, 2005 after being branded a Lashkar-e-Toiba militant by the state police, allegedly trying to hatch a conspiracy to kill Modi. The cops also allegedly killed Sohrabuddin's wife, Kausar Bi.
First phase of polling in 87 out of 182 Assembly Constituencies were held on Tuesday.
The BJP managed to win 127 seats, while the Congress party was able to win only 51 seats in the 2002 Gujarat Assembly polls. The Janata Dal (United) and independents won two seats each.
The second phase of polling for the remaining 95 seats will be held on December 16, while the counting for votes will take place on December 23.
ANI