BJP Targets Sonia Gandhi Over Ishrat Affidavit, Cong Hits Back

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra alleges that UPA government hit on the roots of democracy.

Ishrat Jahan was killed in an alleged fake encounter conducted by Gujarat Police. (Photo: The Quint)

The Bhartiya Janata Party suggested that the Congress chief had asked the then Home Minister P Chidambaram to file a second affidavit in the case as UPA could “tolerate terrorists but not Narendra Modi as Prime Minister”.

Party spokesperson Sambit Patra asked Chidambaram to name the “culprit” who asked him to change the affidavit in which references to Ishrat being an LeT operative and a threat to the life of Modi, then Gujarat’s Chief Minister, were made.

Mr P Chidambram, let the nation know who wrote the conspiracy. We all know that in the Congress party diktats come from a singular address. You know the address. The remote control lies with her.

<b>Sambit Patra, Spokesperson, BJP</b>

UPA Government Hit at the Root of Democracy, Says Patra

Former Home Minister, P Chidambaram who allegedly signed off on contradicting affidavits in the Ishrat Jahan case. (Photo: Reuters)

Patra made clear reference to Congress president Sonia Gandhi while addressing a press conference. He alleged that Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chidambaram “suppressed” information provided by the NIA and the FBI, the US probe agency, about Ishrat being a terrorist and a threat to Modi’s life.

Also Read: David Headley Says Ishrat Jahan Was a LeT Suicide Bomber

Congress President Sonia Gandhi in the Lok Sabha in New Delhi. (Photo:PTI) 

You could not tolerate him as you feared him becoming the Prime Minister. You tolerated terrorists. The conspiracy to eliminate important leaders from India has been exposed and you have been caught red-handed.

<b>Sambit Patra, Spokesperson, BJP</b>

The UPA government’s action hit at the root of democracy, he alleged, saying it knew that Ishrat was a suicide bomber deputed by the LeT to eliminate Modi.

Congress Questions BJP’s “Desperation” to Close Fake Encounter Case

File photo of BJP President Amit Shah with PM Modi. (Photo: Reuters)

On the other hand, Congress hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah over the Ishrat Jehan case, accusing them of “obstructing” judicial process and taking to “patent falsehoods”.

Also Read: Ishrat Jahan Encounter Was Fake: Former SIT Member Satish Verma

The Prime Minister and the BJP President are shamelessly misleading the country and obstructing judicial process by blocking trial of accused in the Ishrat Jehan fake encounter case pending in a court in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

<b>Randeep Surjewala, Spokesperson, Congress</b>

Surjewala added that Modi and Shah should tell the nation the real motive behind “desperation” to shut the trial. He alleged that the Modi government is using a web of selective news leaks, deceptive statements of its ministers and non-grant of sanction for prosecution of the accused to ensure mistrial and reinvestigation through pliable investigating agencies.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala has accused Narendra Modi and Amit Shah of “obstructing” judicial process. (Photo: ANI screengrab)

Surjewala said the Modi government seeks to “falsely hide” behind the language of pleadings before the High Court to ensure no trial takes place and truth does not come out.

This itself makes the motive of Prime Minister, BJP President and their ministers clearly suspect. Ishrat Jehan fake encounter case has no connection to the then Congress government in any manner.

<b>Randeep Surjewala, Spokesperson, Congress</b>

Ishrat was killed in an encounter by Gujarat police in 2004. A court-monitored CBI probe had found the encounter fake and a major row erupted after the UPA government filed in September 2009 a second affidavit which, unlike the first, did not make any reference to her suspected LeT links.