The BJP on Thursday hit back at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his liar jibe at the prime minister, dubbing him as "joothon ka sardar" (master of lies) and saying detention camps in Assam were set up when the Congress was in power both at the Centre and the state.
In a tweet earlier in the day, the Congress leader had alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was lying to the country on the issue of detention camps in Assam.
Hitting back at Mr Gandhi, BJP spokesperson Sambhit Patra said he has used objectionable language but it was too much to ask for decency in public discourse from him.
Addressing a press conference, Mr Patra showed the official statement issued by the Congress-led UPA government in 2011 stating that detention centres have been set up in Assam.
"Rahul Gandhi is Joothon ka Sardar. The three detention centres were set up in Assam by his party which was in power both at the Centre and the state," he said.
Mr Patra also showed the ''white paper'' issued by the Assam government on the issue of illegal migrants and claimed it also talks about setting up of detention centres.
He further said there is no connection between detention centres and National Register of Citizens.
Mr Gandhi on Thursday attacked PM Modi over his remarks that there were no detention centres in the country, alleging that "RSS's Prime Minister lies to Bharat Mata".
Taking to Twitter, he also attached a video clip with PM Modi accusing the Congress, its allies and "urban Naxals" of spreading the rumour that Muslims will be sent to detention centres.
The clip also shows a purported detention centre being constructed in Assam.
"We Revived Nalanda University, Now We Must Revive Nalanda Spirit": PM Modi "Secular Civil Code Need Of Times": PM Modi In Independence Day Speech "Strictest Punishment For Crimes Against Women": PM Amid Kolkata Protests Tear Gas Fired After Kolkata Protest Against Doctor's Rape-Murder Turns Violent 150 mg Semen In Kolkata Doctor's Body, Suspect Gang-Rape: Parents To Court 2 French Rafale Jets Collide Mid-Air, Instructor, Pilot Missing Olympic Team, Border Roads Staff, 'Lakhpati Didis' Attend Independence Day Mob Vandalised Kolkata Doctor Rape Murder Case Crime Scene? Cops Respond Mob Vandalised Kolkata Doctor Rape Murder Case Crime Scene? Cops Respond Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.