The BJP is demanding an apology from Congress chief Sonia Gandhi over leaders Mani Shankar Aiyar and Salman Khurshid's controvertial comments criticising the Modi government in Pakistani media.
Escalating its attack against Mani Shankar Aiyar over his controversial remarks in Pakistani media, the BJP today called it "treason" and demanded an apology from Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.
Union ministers M Venkaiah Naidu and Prakash Javadekar also hit out at former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid for what they called criticisism of the NDA government for adopting a tough stand towards Pakistan. They said the Congress should take strong action against the two leaders for their "seditious" and "anti-national" remarks.
"The comments made by Mr Aiyar and Mr Khurshid are highly objectionable and anti-national. Going to a foreign country and calling upon the people to overthrow a democratically elected PM is nothing but sedition," Venkaiah Naidu said.
Mr Naidu said that the Congress party "should condemn these remarks and take strongest possible action against these two people".
"They are not ordinary people to be brushed aside. They were ex-ministers and spokesmen of the Congress party. This shows the level of the frustration of the party and its leaders," Mr Naidu said, adding that remarks by Congress leaders are "disgusting" for any patriotic and nationalist Indian.
A statement issued later by Mr Naidu said, "Mr Aiyar's attempt is clearly aimed at de-stabilizing the democratically elected government led by Shri Modi. To say so on a foreign soil is even worse and amounts to clear act of treason."
Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar questioned the Congress' stand on the remarks and demanded an apology from Sonia Gandhi.
"Does Congress approve of Aiyar's remarks? If the two leaders are not forthcoming, then the Congress president should apologise. Being the chief of the party she should take responsibility and apologise," he told reporters at party headquarters.
"The way Mr Khurshid and Mr Aiyar are singing paeans of Pakistan and denigrating the Prime Minister's office is unacceptable. They are playing with the sentiments of the people who are seeing their action as a betrayal of the country. They are free to disagree with us in India but not on foreign soil," he said.
Mr Aiyar sparked a controversy by reportedly saying, during a panel discussion on a Pakistani news channel, that Prime Minister Narendra Modi needs to be removed if talks between the two nations have to resume. His comments have evoked sharp reactions.
Mr Khurshid in a statement had criticised the NDA government for adopting a tough stand towards Pakistan. Mr Khurshid served in various capacities including as External Affairs Minister in UPA government. Mr Aiyar was a Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and then Panchayati Raj Minister.
Hitting out at Mr Aiyar and Mr Khurshid for their comments, BJP had yesterday said that they were trying to gain lost ground "by visiting ISI headquarters" which is an "insult to India and its nationalist Muslims".