Aiyar, Khurshid behaving like ISI, IS 'propagandists': BJP

New Delhi, Nov 17: BJP today accused Congress leaders Mani Shankar Aiyar and Salman Khurshid of behaving like ISI, IS or Taliban "propagandists" and asked the party to come clean on whether it subscribed to their views.

Hitting out at them for their controversial comments, BJP said that they are trying to gain lost ground by visiting ISI headquarters which is an "insult to India and its nationalist Muslims".

"While the world is getting together against terrorism and Prime Minister's words to fight against terrorism has been accepted the world over and it is in this context the G-20 Summit has happened.

"139 people have been killed in Paris in an open assault to civilisation and it seems that these people are behaving and conducting themselves as propagandists for ISI and IS or Taliban," BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi told a press conference.

"BJP strongly condemns such anti-national acts of the Congress party and seeks an explanation from their leadership about these critical issues," she said. She added that even when the world is condemning terrorism "they have no shame in standing by the wrong forces".

Lekhi said those who have lost elections are trying to gain lost ground by visiting the ISI headquarters.

"That is an insult to the nationalist Muslims of this country and that is an insult to their nationality, which is India and Indians." "When it comes to condemnation, at least Azam Khan's statement was condemned by the SP and they dissociated themselves completely from him.

Whereas Congress party has chosen not to do so in this context," the BJP leader said. Lekhi said these leaders have engaged with anti-India agenda and praise the very forces who are working against the country, adding, "We must watch out for such elements the world over, especially in India."

She attacked the Congress for "engineering" an atmosphere of intolerance that does not exist and said that it was part of a larger conspiracy.

"Creating an atmosphere of intolerance where none exists seems to be a larger conspiracy to divide people, polarise people and take the people away from the developmental agenda of the country," she said.

Aiyar stoked a controversy by reportedly saying, during a panel discussion on a Pakistani news channel, that Prime Minister Narendra Modi needs to be removed if talks between the two nations have to resume.

His comments evoked sharp reactions. Khurshid had criticised the NDA government for adopting a tough stand towards Pakistan.

PTI