New Delhi: BJP Spokesperson Sambit Patra hit out at Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and MP Shashi Tharoor for demeaning the country on international platforms, especially in Pakistan.
Shashi Tharoor appeared on the Lahore Literature Festival through video conferencing and during a conversation with a Pakistan based journalist, denigrated India and praised Pakistan’s efforts in combatting the Coronavirus pandemic.
“The Indian government is not doing well and the people realize this. Rahul Gandhi mentioned as early as February that COVID-19 must be taken seriously otherwise India will face economic catastrophe so he should get credit for it,” Shashi Tharoor said.
Hitting out at these statements, Sambit Patra said that it seems Rahul Gandhi is vying to contest elections in Pakistan.
“Are you trying to contest elections from Pakistan? Please respond,” Patra asked.
“We in BJP will start calling him Rahul Lahori and henceforth I too will address Rahul Gandhi as Rahul Lahori. A debut rally for him has already been done in Pakistan by Tharoor,” said Sambit Patra.
The BJP leader said that the Indian National Congress is paving way for Pakistan National Congress.
“They give a ticket to Jinnah’s supporter. I want to ask why is it necessary? Why would you cry about India in Lahore. We have no doubt that Rahul Gandhi hates India. This I am stating with full responsibility,” said Patra.
The BJP leader also accused him of portraying the country in a bad light and demeaned India on Pakistani platform on various issues including handling of COVID-19.
“The whole world saw how the country operated under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we saw the highest recovery and lowest mortality rate amongst coronavirus patients,” said Patra.
Tharoor commented on Tablighi Jamaat stating that “we are fighting bigotry and prejudice in India arising because of a pandemic.”
“There is no country democratic like India,” added Patra.
