BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra on Sunday said the Opposition was trying to stop Prime Minister Narendra Modi from returning to power in 2019 in the way the Pakistan-based terrorist Hafiz Saeed was doing, triggering a backlash from the Opposition.
In a tweet, in which he also shared a video of a speech by Saeed's speech, Patra said, "It's not just the not yet formed Grand Alliance that desperately wants to stop India from having Modi as it’s PM in 2019 ..there are others as well..desperately trying for d same!
Hafiz Saeed openly saying that he will shed blood of Narendra Modi (sic)".
With the Opposition leaders describing the tweet as a comparison between them and the Pakistani terrorist, Patra later said, "Off course this is not a comparison! Modi Ji’s attack on Black Money and corruption is getting the opposition in India on one page while His attack on terrorism & Surgical Strike is pushing Hafeez Sayed to desperation! This proves that the Modi government is moving the right way! (sic)"
Reacting to his comments, CPI national secretary D Raja said Patra's statement needs to be condemned and that it has become a "new normal" for BJP leaders to dub all those who questions the government's claims as "anti-nationals".
"They (people) are so desperate and frustrated that questions are being asked about the government. People will question the government. That is their right. But BJP leaders cannot tolerate such democratic rights and (they are) stooping too low by abusing Opposition. Equating opposition to Pakistani terrorists is condemnable," he said.