Amit Shah, Rahul Gandhi lock horns over Karnataka outcome

BJP chief Amit Shah slammed Congress President Rahul Gandhi for calling the swearing-in ceremony of BS Yeddyurappa as "mockery" of the Constitution. Amit Shah responded by describing the rival party's actions as a "murder of democracy".

Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "The BJP's irrational insistence that it will form a Govt. in Karnataka, even though it clearly doesn't have the numbers, is to make a mockery of our Constitution. This morning, while the BJP celebrates its hollow victory, India will mourn the defeat of democracy."

Rahul Gandhi reacted to the Supreme Court allowing the BJP to form the government in the state after the May 12 assembly polls threw up a hung assembly. BJP has 104 members, while Congress secured 78, the JD(S) 37 and others three. The saffron party and a post-poll alliance of Congress-JD(S) had staked claims for government formation.

Amit Shah on the day of swearing-in ceremony of BS Yeddyurappa in a scathing response against Rahul, said the Congress party's "opportunist offer" of alliance to the JD(S) was a murder of democracy as it was politically motivated.

"The 'Murder of Democracy' happens the minute a desperate Congress made an 'opportunist' offer to the JD(S), not for Karnataka's welfare but for their petty political gains. Shameful!" fired Shah in a tweet.