New Delhi [India], September 24 : BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday took a dig at the Congress over holding the party's Working Committee (CWC) at Sadaqat Ashram in Bihar's Patna.
While usually, the CWC meeting is held in Delhi, the BJP MP said Congress thought about Patna and Bihar after 85 years. He alleged that Patna was chosen for the CWC meeting only for the party's political benefits.
Addressing a press conference in the national capital, he said, "Congress Working Committee meeting took place in Patna today. Congress thought about Patna and Bihar after 85 years? Today, if you (Congress) are concerned about Bihar, I tried to find out why you have suddenly taken such an interest in Bihar...Their CWC in Patna is only for their own political benefits."
Ravi Shankar Prasad claimed that Congress gave a small house to India's first President, Dr Rajendra Prasad, after his term.
"The Congress Party's office in Patna, Sadaqat Ashram, was a centre of India's freedom movement. Dr Rajendra Prasad was the country's first President, and he lived at Sadaqat Ashram. When I became an MP and visited there, I had tears in my eyes. There were just two rooms, a small courtyard and a single toilet," he said.
The BJP MP added, "Prime Minister Nehru did not want him to become the first President. Prime Minister Nehru did not want to give him a second term as President. Jayaprakash Narayan was arrested, but did you (Congress) care about Bihar then? They did not allow Jagjivan Ram to become India's Prime Minister."
Earlier today, the Congress Working Committee held its meeting at Sadaqat Ashram, the party's headquarters in Bihar, ahead of the Legislative Assembly elections later this year.
Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge, senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal, Pawan Khera, former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) president Rajesh Ram, the party's Bihar in-charge Krishna Allavaru, and Congress Legislature Party leader Shakeel Ahmed Khan, among others, reached the Sadaqat Ashram for the meeting.
Kharge lashed out at the Election Commission, alleging that a conspiracy is now being hatched across the country to cut the votes of millions of people.
While delivering his opening remarks at the meeting of the Extended Congress Working Committee, he questioned the Election Commission's impartiality and transparency.
"The foundation of democracy is fair and transparent elections. However, serious questions are being raised today about the impartiality and transparency of the Election Commission itself. Revelations have surfaced in various states, and instead of answering those questions, the EC is demanding affidavits from us," the Congress President said.