Thaindian News

New Delhi, Nov 23 (IANS) The Congress Wednesday hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its remarks that price rise could lead to violence, and said such language was not of political parties but of the mafia.

Congress spokesperson Raashid Alvi also took exception to remarks of social activist Anna Hazare that those who create trouble after drinking liquor should be tied to a pole and beaten if they do not heed warnings to desist.

He termed as “unfortunate” BJP leader Yashwant Sinha’s remarks Tuesday that impatience of people with rising prices could manifest in violence.

“These are irresponsible statements. It is very unfortunate. In which direction is BJP taking the country? This country believes in non-violence. It is not the language of political parties but of mafia,” Alvi said.

Without naming Hazare, Alvi said that provoking people to resort to violence against drunkards was against the constitution.

“This will not lead to strengthening of democracy,” he said.

Alvi termed the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) decision to make declaration about not having illegal assets abroad as “a new ploy”, and said it was an attempt to mislead the country.

Noting that candidates file affidavits while contesting elections which detail all their assets, Alvi said those who get elected file a declaration again. “What is the third affidavit which the NDA wants to submit?” he asked.

The Congress spokesperson said boycott of Home Minister P. Chidambaram by the NDA was “another attempt to mislead” the people as there was no court verdict against him nor was he facing a probe in the 2G spectrum case.

Alvi accused the BJP of “creating an atmosphere against a clean person” and said it lowers dignity of parliament.