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Sibal says BJP's move to EC is result of fear of discovery

BJP complained to EC over Rahul's remarks linking RSS to Gandhi's killing and sought derecognition of Congress

Press Trust of India New Delhi
As the BJP moved the EC against Rahul Gandhi over his remarks linking RSS to Mahatma Gandhi's killing, Union Minister Kapil Sibal today hit out at the opposition party saying their reaction is a result of the "fear of discovery".

"They also don't want anyone to remind the country that the RSS was banned for anti-national activities and that Nathuram Godse was an RSS man steeped in the ideology of intolerance and right-wing fascism.

"So when Rahul Gandhi rightly points this out, they react -- more out of the fear of discovery, than out of defending the truth," he said.
 
The Law Minister said the "undeniable truth" is that Godse wasn't just a member of the RSS, he was an intellectual leader of the group. He said the late Morarji Desai has mentioned this point in his book.

Accusing Rahul Gandhi and Congress of flouting the model code of conduct, BJP yesterday complained to the EC over his remarks linking RSS to Mahatma Gandhi's killing and sought action against the Congress Vice-President and derecognition of the party.

"Now the BJP is in a quandary, and therefore, in denial mode. If they accept this truth, they get exposed as backed by an organisation whose ideology led to the assassination of the father of our nation. If they deny it, they lose the support of the communal forces they build their voter base on," Sibal said.

The senior Congress leader also took a dig at the row within BJP over selection of seats for Narendra Modi and Rajnath Singh.

"...But then again, hiding the truth is a habit of the BJP. We're reading stories about how several senior BJP members are upset with the way Modi is sidelining them, and taking actions in his own interests. Despite the (deliberate?) leaks, the party is in public denial mode on this," Sibal wrote on his website.

He said though the issue is BJP's internal problem, "it's also a national problem.

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First Published: Mar 10 2014 | 5:08 PM IST

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