JNU issue: Amit Shah slams Rahul Gandhi, Congress

The BJP questioned whether the Congress was supporting 'anti-national' elements  by joining the issue.

“Disappointed and frustrated over the success of the Narendra Modi government at the centre, the Congress party has now entered a phase of deep depression. The despondency in the grand old party is so acute that the Congress party has failed to discharge its role of a responsible opposition in the country,” Shah wrote in his blog.

“Given the rising frustration levels, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi is unable to draw the distinction between pro-national and anti national activities. The unfortunate incident at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) cannot be condoned and considered pro nation by any stretch of imagination.  The anti-India sloganeering and open support for terrorists at India’s premier university cannot be accepted by any citizen of this country. To top it, the statements given by Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders in JNU amply demonstrates yet again that they have no regard and love for the nation and its interests,” he said.

Attacking Gandhi and his Congress party, the BJP president said: “This incident at the JNU is nothing but a conspiracy to turn this premier institution of country into a hotbed for separatism and terrorism and bring it a bad name. I want to ask Rahul Gandhi that given the seditious activities at the JNU campus, should the central government have remained a mute spectator? Should such a stance by the central government been in the interest of the nation? Are you not encouraging anti national forces by supporting such shameful acts of anti-national activities?”

Attacking Gandhi for comparing the present state of affairs with that of Nazi-occupied Germany, Shah said the Congress only followed  Nazi leader Adolf Hitler’s ideology.

“During his visit to the JNU campus, Rahul Gandhi compared the current government at the centre with Hitler’s Germany. Before leveling such ridiculous charge, Rahul Gandhi perhaps forgot that the only period in post independent India when a comparison can be drawn with Hitler’s rule was during Mrs. Indira Gandhi’s imposition of emergency in 1975. The emergency not only crushed freedom of expression but the political opponents of Indira Gandhi were simply thrown into prison,” Shah said.

“ It is rather ironical that left leaders, who are today finding support from Rahul Gandhi, were also victims of emergency’s assault on freedom and democratic rights,” he said.

“The traits of Hitler’s persona are in Congress party’s DNA and BJP does not need the Congress to lecture it on value of nationalism and democracy. Our political conduct and morals are inspired by India’s rich culture, heritage and centuries of values & ethos while India’s constitution is our guide for governance. I want to know from Rahul Gandhi if the 1975 emergency defines Congress party’s democratic values and doesn’t he find a parallel between Smt. Indira Gandhi and Hitler?” the BJP president said.

Rahul Gandhi visited protest-hit JNU last week.

The JNU is currently facing protests and counter protests with the police cracking down on students over the anti-India slogans raised earlier to mark the death anniversary of Parliament Attack convict Afzal Guru on its campus in the national capital.