Congress on Ahmed Patel issue: Fearing defeat in Gujarat polls, BJP resorting to conspiracy

Congress on Saturday hit back at BJP over “failed” Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani’s allegations that a suspected ISIS sympathiser worked in a hospital that party’s Rajya Sabha MP Ahmed Patel was associated with.

Reacting to BJP’s allegations and demand for Ahmed Patel resignation, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the saffron party is resorting to “despicable conspiracy” in fear of defeat in upcoming Gujarat assembly elections.

Surjewala countered BJP and asked for party’s clarification over the Mumbai visit of India’s most wanted criminal Dawood Ibrahim’s wife.

Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani on Friday alleged that one of the two suspected ISIS terrorists arrested by Gujarat ATS, earlier worked in Bharuch’s Sardar Patel Hospital of which Ahmed Patel was a trustee.

"This is a serious issue, as a terrorist was arrested from a hospital which is being run by Ahmed Patel...Patel, Rahul Gandhi and the Congress must come clean on the issue. We also want Patel to resign as Rajya Sabha MP," Rupani claimed.

Also Read | Arrested ISIS terrorist worked in Ahmed Patel's hospital, claims Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani

Congress leader and former Finance Minister P Chidambaram termed BJP demand’s of Ahmed Patel’s resignation as “outrageous”.

He said, “If somebody joins as a technician and then he is linked to ISIS, how is some trustee of 3 years ago responsible.” 

After Rupani, Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Saturday upped the ante against Congress and asked the party to come clean on the issue.

However, the Congress turned the tables on the BJP by reminding the 1999 Kandahar plane hijack episode when Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government released Jaish-e-Mohammad's chief Maulana Masood Azhar and others in Afghanistan.

Surjewala went on to say, "Is it not true that the PDP-BJP government in Jammu and Kashmir offered compensation and job to the family of (Hizbul Mujahideen commander) Burhan Wani? Isn't it true that the state government made Asiya Andrabi, involved in anti-India activities, ambassador of 'Beti Bachao' (save girl) campaign?" he asked.

Speaking to reporters earlier at the Congress headquarters, party leader Pawan Khera said Rupani had levelled allegations against Patel as the BJP was "seeking revenge of its defeat in Rajya Sabha election in Gujarat".