Foot-in-mouth Gadkari does it again
BJP president Nitin Gadkari has done it again! After a profuse spree of apologising for describing Lalu Prasad Yadav and Mulayam Singh Yadav as “dogs... who lick the feet” of the Congress and its chief Sonia Gandhi, he created another flutter Thursday night by describing Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, now on death row, as the “Congress’ son-in-law”.
Using language that shocked and astounded many, including several leaders of his own party, Mr Gadkari, addressing a BJP rally in Dehra Dun, said: “Is Afzal Guru the son-in-law of the Congress? Have you (Congress) given your daughter to him (Afzal). Why is he being given special treatment?”
A seething Congress hit back strongly. Congress spokesman Manish Tewari, saying the remarks “smack of obscenity, obnoxiousness and obtuseness”, went on to add that it was evident “that the esteemed president of the BJP has lost it completely... The BJP should take pity on him and put him into a psychiatric facility. The man needs serious help.” Another party spokesman Shakeel Ahmed, condemning the remark, described it as “uncharitable and cheap”.
The BJP, of course, did not find Mr Tewari’s remarks palatable, and its spokesman Ravishankar Prasad demanded that the Congress apologise. The BJP president, meanwhile, was unapologetic about his remarks and insisted to reporters on Friday that “I have said nothing wrong”.
When questioned about his Dehra Dun comment, he said: “I stick to my stand, and so there is no need to apologise... I have not made a wrong statement. The Congress should answer why it is not executing the orders of the Supreme Court (sentencing Afzal Guru to death).”
Congress spokesman Shakeel Ahmed warned that the party should not be held responsible if “something untoward happens” after Congress workers reacted to such remarks.
While there were whispers within BJP ranks against the Gadkari brand of politics, its JD(U) ally was more forthright in expressing its displeasure. Making it clear that he disapproved of what the BJP president was reported to have said, JD(U) president Sharad Yadav pointed out that “many things can be said ... within the limits of decency”.
Comments
What kind of party and what
Harjit Singh Dhanoa
11 Jul 2010 - 20:11
What kind of party and what kind of president the BJP has got that they are taking up such issue of killing a man, legally. After all why did BJP not hang him when they were in power.
His language may be a bit
JM
10 Jul 2010 - 17:50
His language may be a bit raw, but he has raised very pertinent question. Why Congress is going slow? What is the hidden agenda? Congress owes an explanation on all these to the people of this country.
We call them leaders who take
Shyam Chhabra
10 Jul 2010 - 11:13
We call them leaders who take oath to abide by the constitution and rules and regulations set in this country. Why our leaders are indulging in what other party is doing ? Why they can't talk to the point that what should be done to Mr. Afzal in their opinion or what is their ideology had they been in power. Why they try to express negative remark for the ruling party over their decisions. This should be clearly understood that once the BJP was given the mandate to rule this country and after that in consecutive two elections Congress has taken a lead over them, which clearly indicate that the citizens of India did not like the way they ruled or framed the policies. A person has every right to express his view without blaming or condemning any other person. What our common man of India will achive by the remarks of Shri Gadkari and what BJP wants to achieve is not understandable. The politics should be of such nature that it should take the common man of India to new levels of development. The leaders should focus their attention on that and not what the judiciary or ruling govt. is doing on some issues.
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