Sonia, Rahul should behave like common citizens: BJP

Attacking Congress for stalling Parliament over court summons to party leaders in the National Herald case, BJP spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain said there is not a separate law for Sonia and Rahul Gandhi and asked them to behave like common citizens of the country.

"All citizens of the country have equal rights...only summons have been issued...both Sonia and Rahul should behave like common citizens...they have big lawyers and should put their view point before the court," Hussain told newspersons here last night.

"Sonia and Rahul Gandhi do not have a separate law for themselves under the Constitution," he said, adding, they should not hold Parliament to ransom for the summons.

The BJP spokesman asked Congress to allow Parliament to function normally and allow passage of important bills. Rejecting Congress's charge of double standards and vendetta, Hussain said the matter does not concern an official or ministry.

Instead of hampering the Parliament, Congress should allow a debate in the House and "we will tell what they have done," he said, adding, Rahul Gandhi is not able to accept a duly elected government and prime minister.

To a question on why the government is not taking action on the National Herald issue or against Sonia's son-in-law Robert Vadra, he said the matter is in court and law will take its course.

On External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's visit to Pakisatan, Hussain said Afghanistan is a friend of India and she has gone there to take part in a meeting in that country.

"Our External Affairs Minister has gone to Pakistan and she has forcefully raised her voice against terrorism," he said, claiming her visit has diffused some tension in the ties between the two countries.

When his attention was drawn to statements of senior BJP leader Yashwant Singh that the country has bowed before Pakistan and remarks of alliance partner Shiv Sena, Hussain said, "Everybody has a right to speak but government has the right to work and take decisions."

"It is wrong to say that India has knelt down before Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif," he said, adding, BJP has internal democracy and had anyone in SP or BSP said made this remark he would have been thrown out of the party.

To a question on the statements of senior colleague Vinay Katiyar and RSS leader Mohan Bhagwat on Ram Mandir issue, he said government should work for arriving at an honourable and amicable solution.

Asked if the Narendra Modi government will take any initiative in this direction, Hussain did not comment and stressed that a solution is possible only through court and dialogue.

Reacting to the stance adopted by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board on intolerance, he asked where was the intolerance in the country.

"Crores of Muslims are living together securely...there is no other country as safe as India for Muslims...Congress is making unnecessary noise over an odd incident," he said.

AIMPLB resolved to launch a movement against intolerance in the country during its working committee meeting in Amroha.

To another question, he said there is no discussion in now on leadership change in the party's state unit or an alliance with any other party. BJP will contest 2017 elections strongly and register victory, he said.

On Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Hussain said, "He is a good son but not a good chief minister."

Hussain, who was in Varanasi just two days ahead of the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, said the visit of the two leaders in the temple town is expected to be successful and will also give fillip to the sister city cooperation of Varanasi and Kyoto.