Defending its President Nitin Gadkari's remarks over the delay in hanging Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, the BJP on Friday said it was "constructive criticism" and demanded an apology from the Congress for using "uncivilised" language against its leader.
"The remarks of Congress
spokesperson (Manish Tiwari) against Nitin Gadkari were utterly uncivilised, utterly irresponsible and lacked political courtesy," BJP chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said in New Delhi.
Reacting to Gadkari's remarks asking the Congress whether Guru was its son-in-law, the ruling party had said that the BJP chief should be referred to a "psychiatric facility".
"We want to know from the Congress President whether it is the view of the Congress party and whether it is the language of the party. We demand an apology from the Congress for such remarks against leader of an opposition party," Prasad said.
Addressing a rally in Dehradun last night, Gadkari asked Congress leaders "Is Afzal Guru the son-in-law of Congress? Have you (Congress) given your daughter to him (Afzal). Why is he being given special treatment?"
Prasad also pointed to the recent statement of Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit that it was a former Home Minister who had asked to delay the decision on Guru's mercy plea.
Prasad said Gadkari's remarks should be seen as "constructive criticism" of the government's stand on Guru.
"He was summing up the feelings of the kin of those in Parliament attack...in fact Guru had gone on record to say that the plan was to eliminate the entire political leadership of the country," the BJP spokesperson said when asked whether the party chief should be "more careful" in making statements.