Several leaders of the Jammu and Kashmir Congress Saturdaystaged a protest here against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Governor SatyaPal Malik for their remarks on former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.
“We have assembled here to express our anger over theinsult to the former prime minister who laid down his life for the country 28years ago. It is most unfortunate that the state governor has joined thevilification campaign of BJP and Modi,” J-K Congress chief spokespersonRavinder Sharma told reporters.
On Thursday, the governor had said in Srinagar that RajivGandhi was not initially corrupt but, under the influence of some people, hegot involved in the Bofors corruption case.
During a rally in Uttar Pradesh on May 4, Modi had targetedCongress chief Rahul Gandhi, saying, “Your father (Rajiv Gandhi) wastermed Mr Clean by his courtiers, but his life ended as ‘bhrashtachari’ no 1(corrupt number 1).
Besides, Modi on Wednesday accused the Gandhi family of usingwarship INS Viraat as its “personal taxi” when Rajiv Gandhi was theprime minister.
“Over the years, the BJP left no stone unturned toimplicate him (Rajiv Gandhi) but nothing could be proved against him and hecame out clean in the judicial process. But the BJP continued its vilificationcampaign against him and entire Gandhi family, till date which is abuse ofjudicial process and insult to the martyr, who got assassinated due to lack offoolproof security by then BJP supported government at the Centre,” Sharmaalleged.
Criticising Malik for his remarks, state unit senior vicepresident Raman Bhalla said, “He made the statement to please his bossesin Delhi. It is better if he resigns from the constitutional post and work as aspokesperson of the BJP,” he said.
Sharma accused Modi and BJP president Amit Shah of bringingthe election campaigning to the lowest level by using abusive language andhurling expletives on the opposition leaders, including former prime ministers.The agitated Congress leaders protested outside the party headquartersat Shaheedi Chowk and raised anti-BJP slogans.