Both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party have condemned Imran Masood comments, which threatened to "chop Narendra Modi to pieces", terming it as against democracy.
Congress leader Nirmal Khatri on Saturday said that Imran Masood made these comments way back in December last year when Masood was with Samajwadi Party, and also termed such comments as undemocratic.
"Let me tell you first that Imran Masood had joined us on March 8th this year. While the purported CD which has gone viral was that of December when he was in Samajwadi Party. Imran Masood has also clarified on the statement that was made in that CD where he has said that his comments were not meant to kill him but he was just airing his protest in local language. Congress doesn't support or encourage such comments ever and we will always condemn them. We have proof that this CD was made in December as there is a person named Sher Singh who could be seen as well and who has died five months back. Since, these comments were made when he was with Samajwadi party and hence it should not be connected with Congress," said Khatri.
On the other hand BJP leader Nitin Gadkari too condemned Masood's comments in strongest terms and asked Congress to apologize on behalf of Masood.
"This kind of politics is not good for the country. Congress party should apologize before the country on behalf of him and must ask him to desist from making such statements. Moreover, this kind of comments will weaken the democracy," Gadkari said.
Imran Masood, the Congress Party candidate who was to contest elections from Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, has been arrested for his 'hate speech' against BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi made recently.
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Masood, 40, was arrested on the basis of a video clipping that went viral on the web. The clipping showed Masood threatening to "chop Narendra Modi to pieces", igniting a new political controversy prior to next month's general election.
He is now facing criminal charges for his hate speech, though he maintains that he never threatened to kill Modi, but only to teach him a lesson.