Ahmed Patel blames BJP for Rajiv Gandhi's assassination, says he died because of its hatred

With Prime Minister Narendra Modi repeatedly targeting Rajiv Gandhi in his campaign speeches, senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel on Thursday blamed the BJP for creating an environment of "hatred" that led to the former prime minister's assassination.

Congress leader Ahmed Patel. PTI Photo

NEW DELHI: With Prime Minister Narendra Modi repeatedly targeting Rajiv Gandhi in his campaign speeches, senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel on Thursday blamed the BJP for creating an environment of "hatred" that led to the former prime minister's assassination. Patel tweeted that abusing a "martyred" Prime Minster was a sign of ultimate cowardice. He alleged that the then V.P. Singh government had left Rajiv Gandhi with only one PSO (personal security officer) despite credible intelligence inputs and repeated requests. Patel's counter attack came a day after Modi accused the Gandhi family of using warship INS Viraat as its "personal taxi" for a holiday when Rajiv Gandhi was at the helm. "Rajiv ji lost his life due to their hatred and is no longer here amongst us to answer the baseless allegations and abuses which are being unleashed on him. Abusing a martyred Prime Minister is the sign of ultimate cowardice.," Patel tweeted. "But who is responsible for his assassination? The BJP backed V P Singh govt refused to provide him with additional security and left him with one PSO despite credible intelligence inputs and repeated requests," he alleged.

Rajiv ji lost his life due to their hatred & is no longer here amongst us to answer the baseless allegations & abuses which are being unleashed on him

— Ahmed Patel (@ahmedpatel) May 9, 2019

Congress leaders, including its president Rahul Gandhi and general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, have hit out at Modi for his barb at their father, who was India's prime minister between 1984-89. Earlier, Modi had dubbed Rajiv Gandhi as "bhrashtachari no 1" (corrupt no 1), in a reference to the Bofors scam.