Sanjay Raut on Wednesday triggered a massive political row as he claimed a link between former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and mafia don Karim Lala.
Backtracking from his remark he said: “: Our friends from Congress need not feel hurt. If someone feels that my statement has hurt the image of Indira Gandhi ji or hurt someone's feelings, I take back my statement.”
Earlier, Maharashtra's Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis demanded to know whether the underworld mafia was financing the Congress and sought a clarification from its leaders - Sonia Gandhi, Rahul and Priyanka, here on Thursday.
Referring to Raut's claim that Indira Gandhi used to meet the mafia don, the Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Chief Minister said in view of these serious revelations, now the Congress must bare its chest on the issue.
Raut was also slammed by Congress leaders Milind Deora and Sanjay Nirupam. “ Those who indulge in such fake propaganda about former PM Indira Gandhi will have to repent...He must withdraw his statements immediately," ex-Mumbai Congress president and former MP Sanjay Nirupam said.
"Indiraji was a true patriot, who never compromised on national security. I demand that Sanjay Raut withdraw his ill-informed statement.
"Political leaders must show restraint before distorting the legacies of deceased Prime Ministers," said former city party chief and ex-union minister Milind M. Deora.
Before taking back his statement, Rauyt also tried to do some damage control and sought to clarify his connotation.
“Many political people used to come to meet Karim Lala, times were different back then. He was a leader of the Pathan community, he had come from Afghanistan. So, people used to meet him over the problems faced by the Pathan community,” he clarified later.