‘Bhasmasur': BJP slams Rahul Gandhi’s ‘toolkit politics’ amid fuel price row

NEW DELHI: The BJP on Monday launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, with party spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia accusing him of indulging in “toolkit politics” and attempting to spread instability amid rising concerns over inflation and fuel prices.The remarks came after Rahul claimed during a meeting of the Congress Minority Department advisory council that the Narendra Modi-led government “will not last till next year” if the current economic situation continues. The Congress leader has also stepped up attacks on the Centre over the latest fuel price hikes, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of burdening ordinary citizens.Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Bhatia mocked Gandhi’s prediction and compared him to “Bhasmasur”.“Yesterday, another toolkit surfaced in which it was claimed that this government, serving the people of the country with full strength, will fall within a year. We did not know that ‘Bhasmasur Rahul Gandhi’ would also become an astrologer,” Bhatia said.The BJP leader accused Gandhi of making “destructive, anarchic, immature and foolish” statements aimed at weakening public confidence in the government. He argued that India had shown resilience despite global economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions.“It is a time of global crisis and many economies have weakened. But under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, India has faced these challenges strongly for the past 85 days. The Indian economy remains stable,” Bhatia said.He also responded to Gandhi’s criticism over fuel prices, saying increases in petrol and diesel rates had been driven by global crude oil volatility and tensions in West Asia. Fuel prices were revised upward again on Monday, marking the fourth hike in less than two weeks. In Delhi, petrol crossed the Rs 100-per-litre mark after rising to Rs 102.12, while diesel climbed to Rs 95.20 per litre.“If Rahul Gandhi’s intention is to spread anarchy, then our resolve is to make India stronger and take the country further ahead,” he added.