New Delhi, Mar 11 (UNI) In his eagerness to attack BJP over the release of Masood Azhar following hijack of Indian Airlines plane in 2000, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday ended up giving up a major handle to the saffron party when he addressed Jaish-e-Mohammad chief as 'Masood Azhar ji'.
"It is shameful to say the least...," Union Minister Smriti Irani told a TV channel within minutes the video of Congress president's speech went vital on social media and TV news channels.
"Desh ke 44 vir jawano ki shahdat ke liye jimmedar atanki sangathan Jaish-e-Mohammad ke sargarna ke liye Rahul Gandhi ki man mein itna samman (It appears Rahul Gandhi has lot of respect for someone who is chief of JeM and is responsible for the killing of 44 CRPF personnel)," BJP's official twitter handle said with the video of Mr Gandhi's speech.
Addressing a Congress booth level workers meet, Mr Gandhi said - Jaish-e-Mohammad carried out the Pulwama attack in which 44 jawans were killed. "But it was current NSA Ajit Doval who handed over Masood Azhar ji at Kandahar".
Ms Irani, who contested against Rahul Gandhi in Amethi in 2014, further said - "Are you surprised ..this is the same Rahul Gandhi who supported Tukde Tukde gang in Delhi".
Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad also flayed Rahul Gandhi and said - "Don't call it Rahul Gandhi's slip...even in past Digvijaya Singh has called Osama bin Laden....Osamaji".
UNI DEVN 1956