New Delhi, July 16: A war of words erupted between the BJP and Congress on Saturday after the Gujarat Special Investigation Team (SIT) charged senior leader of the latter, late Ahmed Patel of having conspired to destabilise the then state government-led by Narendra Modi post the 2002 Gujarat riots.
The ruling BJP accused Congress president Sonia Gandhi of paying crores to activist Teesta Setalvad through Patel to ‘defame’ Modi.
The Congress refuted the allegations and questioned the timing citing that the latest revelations by the SIT comes ahead of the Assembly elections in the state, and termed it ‘cooked up’ theory.
Addressing a press conference, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said: “The Gujarat SIT submitted an affidavit in the court (Ahmedabad). It reveals a shocking truth.
“The affidavit clearly states that Teesta Setalvad and her associates were not working for humanity but with a ‘political design’ and objective .
“They had two objectives– ‘dismissal and destabilisation’ of the then elected government in Gujarat, and to frame innocent people including Narendra Modiji in Gujarat riots 2002. This is a very serious issue.
“This was a conspiracy not only to malign the image of Narendra Modi, but also of Gujarat.
“Ahmed Patel is just a name, the driving force behind him was his boss Sonia Gandhi. Through Patel, Sonia Gandhi tried to defame the then CM of Gujarat, Modiji and malign the image of the state. The entire conspiracy was hatched by Sonia Gandhi.”
He added, “Seetalvad was paid Rs 30 lakh as first installment by Sonia Gandhi. The amount was delivered to Seetalvad by Ahmed Patel. After that she was paid cores to defame Narendra Modiji and BJP to implicate in a false conspiracy. It was also done to promote Rahul Gandhi.”
Earlier, Congress media department head Jairam Ramesh in a statement said. “The Congress categorically refutes the ‘mischievous’ charges manufactured. Against late Ahmed Patel. The Prime Minister’s political vendetta machine clearly does not even spare the departed who were his political adversaries.’
“Giving judgment through press, in an ongoing judicial process, through puppet investigative agencies who trumpet wild allegations as supposed findings, has been the hallmark of the Modi-Shah duo’s tactics for years. This is nothing but another example of the same , with the added object of vilifying a deceased person since he is
obviously unable and unavailable to refute such brazen lies,” he said.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera, attacking the ruling BJP over the issue said. “Whenever there is Assembly elections in Gujarat, BJP, Narendra Modi and his ‘eco-system’ bring in new theories.”
“Ahmed Patel, Sonia Gandhiji is an excuse, BJP’s only target is Assembly elections,” he asserted.
Assembly elections are slated to be held in Gujarat at the end of this year.
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