BJP said by making such 'petty' statements the Congress is lowering the country's prestige and further losing its reputation among the people.

New Delhi: Steering clear of any controversy over grant of $1 billion loan by SBI to Adani Group, BJP today said the deal is between the bank and industry and the government has no role in the matter even as the ruling party hit out at Congress for dragging the prime minister into it.

BJP said by making such "petty" statements the Congress is lowering the country's prestige and further losing its reputation among the people.

"It is a matter between the bank and the industry and the government has nothing to do with it... If Congress views the visit of the head of the country like this and make petty statements, it is lowering the dignity and prestige of the country," BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said in New Delhi.

"If Congress continues to make such baseless allegations, it will further lower its reputation among the people," he said.

The BJP leader said while the whole world was applauding the prime minister's recent visit abroad, the Congress was criticising him and was making baseless allegations in its bid to divert the public attention.

"Congress has not yet come out of the reality that it is out of power... They (Congress leaders) still feel in their dreams that they are in power. They feel that by raising more questions and making baseless issues they will be able to divert the attention of the people," Hussain said.

The BJP leader also brushed aside Congress criticism on Kisan Vikas Patras saying the government has relaunched the scheme to help poor farmers invest safely and said the scheme will help pump in investment in the country.

The BJP spokesperson was responding to Congress criticism that Adani Group was approved the loan at a time when its proprietor and the SBI chief were part of the Prime Minister's business delegation.

Congress has questioned the decision of SBI to give $1 billion loan to Adani Group for development of Carmichael coal

mine during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's just-concluded visit to Australia.

Congress leader Ajay Maken alleged that the Prime Minister appeared taking keen interest in "promoting" Adani in getting the loan during the visit.

PTI