Rahul Gandhi addresses Masood Azhar using "Ji", gets slammed
What's the story
Congress President Rahul Gandhi landed himself in a totally unavoidable political row on Monday when he used the suffix "ji" for Masood Azhar, prompting senior BJP leaders to take potshots at him. Addressing a gathering of Congress workers, Gandhi spoke about the Kandahar crisis of 1999, which forced India, then governed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, to release Azhar. But his jibe proved expensive.
History
Rahul reminded everyone about Kandahar crisis
Gandhi spoke about the horrendous CRPF attack of February 14. He said the attack, in which 40 soldiers were martyred, was planned by Jaish-e-Mohammed. He then reminded that JeM's chief Masood Azhar was released almost two decades ago by the then NDA government. Current NSA Ajit Doval was among those who handed over Azhar in exchange of Indian passengers aboard the hijacked IC-814 flight.
Twitter Post
Using Azhar's release, Gandhi targeted BJP
#WATCH Rahul Gandhi in Delhi: You would remember that during their(NDA) last Govt, current National Security Advisor Ajit Doval went to Kandahar to hand over Masood Azhar. pic.twitter.com/xTErFR6rjV
— ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2019
Reactions
However, respect he bestowed on terrorist gave BJP an opportunity
But the jibe backfired brutally. Union Minister Smriti Irani, who took on Gandhi in his bastion Amethi in 2014 elections, tweeted: What is common between Rahul Gandhi and Pakistan? Their love for terrorists. Please note Rahul ji's reverence for terrorist Masood Azhar - a testimony to #RahulLovesTerrorists Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad asked, "What is happening in Congress?" Soon #RahulLovesTerrorists trended on the micro-blogging website.
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They fed biryani to terrorists, wrote Yogi Adityanath
राहुल गांधी उतना ही बोलते हैं, जितना रटाया जाता है। जो लोग आतंकवादियों को बिरयानी खिलाते थे, आज वे सेना के शौर्य का सबूत मांग रहे हैं। https://t.co/ah14AOewSz
— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) March 11, 2019
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BJP leaders slammed Gandhi
देश के 44 वीर जवानों की शहादत के लिए जिम्मेदार आतंकी संगठन जैश-ए-मोहम्मद के सरगना के लिए राहुल गांधी के मन में इतना सम्मान! #RahulLovesTerrorists pic.twitter.com/I8a9FY60cW
— BJP (@BJP4India) March 11, 2019
Defense
Later, Congress accused BJP of twisting Gandhi's words
Soon, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala blamed BJP and a section of media for twisting the party president's words. "1) Did NSA Doval not escort & release terrorist Masood Azhar in Kandahar? 2) Did Modiji not invite Pak's rogue ISI to investigate Pathankot terror attack," tweeted Surjewala. He used the hashtag #BJPLovesTerrorists to turn the heat back on the saffron party.
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Congress asked questions to BJP
2 questions to BJP select Bhakt Media,who deliberately seek to twist the ‘Masood’ sarcasm of Rahulji-:
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) March 11, 2019
1 Did NSA Doval not escort release terrorist Masood Azhar in Kandahar?
2 Did Modiji not invite Pak's rogue ISI to investigate Pathankot terror attack? #BJPLovesTerrorists pic.twitter.com/nBvjsQi7Mp
Battle
Pulwama attack furthered the battle between Congress and BJP
The BJP and Congress have been locked in a verbal battle for days now over the Pulwama attack and IAF strikes. Earlier, Gandhi shared media report which claimed PM Narendra Modi was shooting for a documentary when the attack happened. In turn, BJP shared videos of Gandhi's rallies from the day to drive home the point that he isn't concerned about national security.