Sambit Patra (left), Rahul Gandhi (File photo)
NEW DELHI: BJP MP Sambit Patra on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the opposition over its protests against the SIR drive, branding it a “ghuspatiya bachao andolan”. Speaking to reporters, Patra alleged that the opposition, particularly the Gandhi family, was showing “a clear sense of frustration” against the campaign.Referring to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s ongoing voter adhikar yatra in Bihar, Patra claimed it was aimed at shielding illegal migrants.“Rahul Gandhi’s Yatra in reality, is a ‘ghuspatiya bachao andolan’ like the Home Minister called it. The BJP and the entire nation believes that the country needs to be protected against infiltrations and the PM has also said that the nation has to be saved from the infiltrators,” he said.Patra also cited remarks by Jharkhand minister Irfan Ansari, who allegedly threatened BJP leaders speaking against infiltrators. “Irfan Ansari, a senior Jharkhand Minister, said that we will dig the graves of those BJP leaders who speak of infiltrators and Bangladeshis.”He went on to say, “these people are talking about protecting those who say Bangladeshis have first right on country resources and digging graves of people who talk about protecting the country,” he said. The BJP leader further pointed to comments by TMC Malda district president Abdur Rahim Bakshi, who, according to him, had threatened a BJP MLA with an acid attack. “Abdur Rahim Bakshi… threatened a BJP MLA, saying that if you use the word ‘infiltrator’ and take action against Bangladeshis, I will throw acid on your face and pour acid inside your mouth so you can’t speak anymore. With great sensitivity, I appeal to the Kolkata High Court to take suo motu cognisance of this,” Patra said.Patra insisted that the BJP would continue to highlight the issue of infiltration, framing it as a core national security challenge that, according to him, the opposition was reluctant to confront.
