‘Pragya Thakur proof of BJP doublespeak’

Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel on Saturday lashed out at the Narendra Modi-led government for employing ‘double standards’ when it came to fighting terrorism. The Rajya Sabha MP from

Gujarat

slammed the BJP for fielding a candidate, who criticized the officers who laid down their life fighting terrorists.


Patel was speaking in Rajkot in connection with BJP’s Bhopal Lok Sabha candidate Pragya Singh Thakur, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, claiming that former Maharashtra anti-terrorism squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare died in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks as she had "cursed" him. The remarks had caused a furore, forcing BJP to distance itself from them and compelled Thakur to issue an apology Friday evening.

"Our forces fought the terrorists and caught (Ajmal) Kasab alive. But what Sadhvi Pragya Thakur is doing is tagging the person (Karkare) who was martyred in that attack as anti-national. The BJP gives ticket to such (Thakur) persons?" Patel told media persons.

"This clearly shows the double standards of BJP. On one hand you talk about fighting terrorism and on the other you are criticizing those who are fighting terrorism," the AICC treasurer added.

The senior Congress leader was confident that his party will get majority in the general election, while he forecast only 150-160 seats for the ruling BJP which might go up to 200 adding its alliance partners. "When the ruling government is supposed to give the account of its five years, it is asking Congress to give account of its rule," Patel quipped.

Continuing to speak on Pragya’s topic, Patel said, "The terrorists came to Mumbai crossing Gujarat’s sea. What was the Gujarat government doing then? On the other hand, our chief minister and Union home minister resigned after the attack." Patel forecast that after May 23, when the Lok Sabha election results are announced, Modi will be ex-PM.

He said that unemployment was the biggest issue faced by the country and attributed the large-scale unemployment to demonetization. Speaking about Congress MLAs joining BJP, Patel said "I have to admit that we should have taken care at the time of allotment of ticket."

Regarding the attack on Patidar leader Hardik Patel, who recently joined Congress, Ahmed Patel said, "It was a plan to demoralize Hardik, who is campaigning against BJP. The BJP should have countered Hardik on issues. It is not fair to attack him physically." While in Rajkot, Patel met member of the erstwhile royal family of Rajkot Thakorsaheb Mandhatasinh Jadeja, who is with the BJP. Patel later addressed party workers in Jamnagar and addressed a rally in Una taluka of Gir-Somnath district.

‘PM misleading country in the name of development’

Addressing a public meeting in Una taluka of Gir-Somnath, Congress leader Ahmed Patel said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had misguided people in the name of development. Campaigning for Punja Vansh, his party candidate from Junagadh seat, Patel said, "Don’t forget how the BJP humiliated and marginalized our fellow Dalits and farmers. Modi has misguided the people in the name of development. He misguided Gujarat for 12 years and now is doing the same across the country." He further accused the PM of serving the industrialists even as farmers struggle to make ends meet.