Congress frowns upon Gujarat leader's outreach to Togadia

New Delhi, dhns: Senior Congress leaders have frowned upon Gujarat leader Arjun Modhwadia's gesture of meeting Pravin Togadia after the VHP chief was found in a semi-conscious state in the bylanes of Ahmedabad.

Modhwadia had called on Togadia at an Ahmedabad hospital on Tuesday. He described the meeting as a "courtesy call".

However, senior Congress leaders felt that Modhwadia's visit to Togadia was unwarranted.

Congress leaders in Delhi see Togadia's claims of threat to his life from a combined team of Rajasthan and Gujarat Police as an attempt to stay in the limelight after being marginalised in the Sangh Parivaar politics.

"Our leaders are in a hurry. Why should we get involved in the internal politics of the Sangh Parivar," a senior Congress leader said when asked about Modhwadia's meeting.

While the BJP has remained silent on Togadia's remarks, senior RSS leader M G Vaidya wondered how a person enjoying Z-plus security cover can be eliminated in an encounter.

Vaidya wanted Togadia to give evidence to back his claims.

"I have and will continue to oppose hate speeches of Pravin Togadia, BJP, RSS and will oppose them tooth and nail. I also vehemently oppose branding of a political opponent as an enemy and anti-national and killing them in a fake encounter," Modhwadia clarified.

Modhwadia is a former President of the Gujarat Congress and a former Leader of the Congress Legislature Party in the state assembly. He lost the Gujarat assembly elections last year from Porbandar.