Rahul's 'Tremor' Remark Was Meant to 'Horrify' Public: BJP

Rampur (UP): Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Monday attacked Rahul Gandhi, saying the Congress vice president's "tremor" remark was meant to "horrify" public and urged them to guard against all "false" propaganda spread by the party after the demonetisation of high-value currency notes.

Naqvi said Gandhi had on December 9 claimed "tremors" would occur if he was allowed to speak in Lok Sabha, but the Congress leader was yet to clarify his statement.

"Tremors would not occur if Rahul speaks about the same issues from multiple public forums," the BJP leader said here. "Neither Rahul nor his lieutenants spoke a single word related to his hidden agenda in the House, and only carried

out 'ho halla' during winter session of Lok Sabha," he said.

"By talking of tremor, Rahul wanted to horrify the parliamentarians, the treasury banches and the people so that the government does not highlight its pro-people schemes," he said.

On December 9 Rahul Gandhi had thundered that there will be an "earthquake" if he is allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha. The Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs said Congress should come up with some "constructive and concrete" plan to regain strength following the defeat in 2014 polls.

Naqvi asked Congress to "tell the nation" why the part was against the demonetisation of high-value currency notes and stalled Lok Sabha for 28 days, and asked people to guard against all the false propaganda spread by the party.

"Does it not present two faces of the party and their complete in-competence to take judicious stand on programmes launched by the government," he asked.

He suggested that Congress wanted to "hide their blackmoney" by not discussing the issue in parliament.

"Exhibit the courage to declare your positive and constructive program to prove yourselves as the protectors of democracy," Naqvi told Congress.

On the Congress' criticism of the government decision to appoint Lt Gen Bipin Rawat as the next army chief, he said the decision was taken in the "best interest" of the nation's security.