Congress, BJP spar over charges against Patel

New Delhi: The Congress and BJP on Saturday sparred over terror allegations against Ahmed Patel, with the ruling party on Saturday seeking clarifications from Congress President Sonia Gandhi over the allegations against her political secretary.

The Congress said the BJP was "rattled" at the prospect of defeat in Gujarat and was thus making "baseless" charges against the leader. The BJP said if the Congress doesn't come clean on the issue then it will be linked to terrorism by people.

The Congress said the BJP was trying to take revenge against Ahmed Patel for the Rajya Sabha election defeat and they "should refrain from politicising the issue" and not link it with the Gujarat elections. "The investigative agencies have arrested an IS suspect from a hospital in Gujarat.

Ahmed Patel is associated with the hospital. Congress will have to answer. It cannot run away," Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said at a press conference. He said that Congress president and Vice President Rahul Gandhi need to come forward and clarify on the matter.

"Terror suspect's link to hospital is a serious issue. It's a matter of national security. We want Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi to give clarification," he said.
The Minority Affairs Minister said that the NDA government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism and hit out at the Congress leadership for defending Patel.

"After a few days people will start saying 'Congress ka hath Aatank ke sath' like they used to say earlier 'Congress ka hath corruption ke sath'. People are questioning Ahmed Patel's links to the IS operatives. Congress has a history of favouring anti-national elements," he said.

Referring to Mohammed Qasim Stimberwala, one of the two alleged IS operatives arrested by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad from Surat on Wednesday, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani had demanded resignation of Patel from the Rajya Sabha.