Reconcile to Cong's future as 2-digit party, BJP tells Gandhis

, Apr 27: As the Gandhi family raised the pitch against Narendra Modi,

on Sunday hit back, saying their tirade reflects the "fear psychosis" that has gripped Congress as it is unable to accept the "harsh reality" that it is going to be reduced to a "two-digit" party.

"The guilt of having tried to implicate him (Modi) falsely for over twelve years has created a fear psychosis about Modi in the Congressmen’s minds.

"It is for this reason that the Gandhis are shrill to the extent of being illogical when it comes to any references made to Narendra Modi," senior BJP leader and party's candidate from Amritsar Lok Sabha seat Arun Jaitley said.

He also took a dig at Congress leader Salman Khurshid for offering support to Third Front, saying he has "virtually accepted defeat" and stressed that "these manipulations are not likely to work". He said the people will defeat not only Congress but also the "merchants of instability".

Referring to attacks on Modi by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, her son Rahul and daughter Priyanka, he said the Congress party is at odds. It is unable to accept the "harsh reality that it is going to be reduced to a two-digit party". "A two-digit party must reconcile to this reality and plan for the future.

After all there is no last day in the calendar of politics," he wrote on his blog. He said a leopard never changes its spots. "The Congress Party feels that it was born to rule. It is unable to visualise another party or person in power, least of all Narendra Modi."

On Khurshid's offer to extend support to Third Front in forming the next government, Jaitley said "fortunately the projected figure in their case shows that even these manipulations are not likely to work.

"The electorate is now aware of these manipulative tendencies and is likely to deliver a decisive result. Those who toy with the idea of Third Front with Congress support are only reviving an idea which has repeatedly failed."

He said such "non ideological combinations" formed purely for convenience can never deliver governance.

"There are many who rejoice the political instability. It is only then that they can claim some relevance. I am sure that the electorate is wise enough to defeat not only the Congress but also the "merchants of instability", Jaitley wrote.

PTI