New Delhi [India], June 4 : Commenting on Rahul Gandhi's statement in Madhya Pradesh, RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha on Wednesday said the Opposition leaders must not avoid using the same language as the BJP, adding that they are currently in a fight with the ruling party on multiple fronts.
Speaking to ANI, RJD MP Jha said, "I believe there is a LoP who is also the main face of the INDIA alliance... We are fighting with the BJP on many levels. We are fighting ideological, political, theoretical, linguistic, and emotional battles with them. So, we must show that our language and expressions are entirely different from those of the BJP. Otherwise, the same things happen... 'Bhains, Mangalsutra or Mujra."
"This is my personal opinion that criticism is the most central discussion of politics," he added.
The row began when, addressing a convention of Congress workers in Bhopal, LoP Rahul Gandhi said, "Now, I understand RSS-BJP well. They run away out of fear if slight pressure is put on them. When Trump called Modiji- Modiji kya kar rahe ho, Narender-Surrender and with 'ji hazooor', Narenderji followed Trump. In the 1971 war, the Seventh Fleet (which came from the US), India Gandhi said I will do whatever I have to do. This is the difference. This is their character; all of them are like this. Since the Independence movement, they have had the habit of writing letters of surrender."
This was followed by attacks from BJP leaders. Senior BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said, "Rahul Gandhi has proved again that he does not have the ability and maturity to handle a post like the Leader of the Opposition and has shown his lack of wisdom and low standards," said Trivedi.
Reacting to Rahul Gandhi's remark on the BJP-RSS, Trivedi said, "This is the same BJP and the same organisation that has reduced the once-invincible Congress to irrelevance in many states."
The BJP MP went on to list what he termed a series of "surrenders" by Congress governments over the years.
"You said on 15 July 2011 that terrorism cannot be controlled -- that was a surrender to terrorism. After the 26/11 attacks, your government did not permit military retaliation. That, too, was a surrender. In 1971, despite having 93,000 Pakistani soldiers in custody, Indira Gandhi's government failed to reclaim PoK. In 1948, Nehru took the Kashmir issue to the UN and surrendered half of it. At Independence, one-third of the country was surrendered to Jinnah and the Muslim League," Trivedi stated.
BJP MP Sambit Patra said that Rahul Gandhi's speech in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday does not befit any "civilised politician or any leader of the opposition."
On the other hand, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari defended Gandhi and said, "Rahul Gandhi's arrow directly hit the target."