BJP hits back, calls Rahul 'merchant of hate'

Congress president Rahul Gandhi's description of the Alwar mob lynching as “Modi's brutal 'New India'” sparked off a war of words with the BJP.

Finance Minister Piyush Goyal hit back at the Congress president calling him the “merchant of hate”.

Launching a fresh attack on the Modi government, Rahul had questioned the three-hour delay in taking the victim in Alwar to a hospital which was 6 km away.

“Policemen in Alwar took 3 hrs to get a dying Rakbar Khan, the victim of a lynch mob, to a hospital just 6 KM away. Why? They took a tea-break en route (sic),” Rahul tweeted citing a news report.

“This is Modi’s brutal “New India” where humanity is replaced with hatred and people are crushed and left to die,” the Congress president said.

Singed by Rahul's comments, the BJP launched a coordinated attack on the Congress president with Goyal asking him to “stop jumping with joy every time a crime happens” and Union minister Smriti Irani accusing him of following “vulture politics.”

“Rahul Gandhi’s family presided over the worst form of hate in 1984, Bhagalpur & Nellie & many other instances. It is shameful that he is doing the same through VULTURE POLITICS. Not a single instance goes by where he doesn't attempt to rupture social bonds for electoral gains,” said Smriti, who unsuccessfully contested against Rahul in Amethi in 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

Goyal accused Rahul of dividing the country in every manner possible for electoral gains and then shedding crocodile tears.

“The state has already assured strict & prompt action. You divide the society in every manner possible for electoral gains & then shed crocodile tears. Enough is Enough. You are a MERCHANT OF HATE,” Goyal said on Twitter.

Information & Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore asked Rahul to stop sowing seeds of hatred in the society for a few votes.

“Mr Rahul Gandhi, STOP using a crime for political gains. The local police is already on the case. Justice will be served. Stop sowing seeds of hatred in society simply for a few votes,” Rathore tweeted.