NEW DELHI: BJP on Thursday attacked Rahul Gandhi for his comment that Modi government’s policies leading to the alleged exclusion of a large number of people from the development process could give rise to terrorist groups like Islamic State , and said the Congress president was legitimising terrorism.

"You tried to justify terrorism. You tried to justify IS (Islamic State). There can be nothing more ignominious and perturbing than this. It is very sad. You call yourself a leader of the country. You are a parliamentarian and you mock India from foreign soil,” BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said at a press conference .

He added that the Congress chief “lied through his teeth” in accusing the Modi government of striking down a law on atrocities against Dalits and tribals. The BJP leader was reacting to Rahul’s comments in Hamburg, Germany.

Patra said the Congress president gave an excuse for the IS, which was a mockery of the country’s minorities. “You have tried to denigrate the minorities of this great country. You have questioned them. Your submission that if jobs are not available for minorities of the country, they will sell their soul to an alternative idea of IS, which is deplorable and for which you have to explain before the country. We cannot forgive you," he added.

The BJP leader accused Rahul of presenting the country in bad light. “You have a false estimate of India and its potential. You are saying that India's role will remain only to balance between the US and China. Is this your estimate for India? Is this what you estimate the potential of 125 crore Indians?" he asked.

Responding to Rahul's charge that violence had increased in India and his call for change in the attitude of Indian men towards women, Patra said, “You have tried to denigrate Indian culture. This country accepted Sonia Gandhi, who headed the Congress party for 19 long years and remain proxy prime minister for 10 years. Both Sonia and Rahul Gandhi should come out and speak."

