Allegation against Jay Shah Congress’ attempt to divert attention: BJP

New Delhi, Oct 9 (IANS) The BJP on Monday hit back at Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi after he targetted party chief Amit Shah over allegation related to his son's business and described it as the party's attempt to divert attention from their own scams and misdeeds.

"Their recent aggression against Jay Shah are clearly off track. Jay Shah's business is perfectly legitimate and legal. TDS is paid, loans are repaid and company closed after losses. Does this reek of cronyism," Union Minister Smriti Irani said in a statement, a day after her ministerial colleague Piyush Goyal defended the junior Shah.

She said that instead of seeking answers on 80 crores of transactions that are within the purview of the law, it would be more prudent for the Congress to give an account for the more than 80 scams and the Rs, 1,80,000 crore that India has lost due to corruption and cronyism of successive Congress governments.

"The Nehru-Gandhi family, which was pressuring banks to give loans to Vijay Mallya in return of airline upgrades is now questioning others," she said.

"The Congress' attempt to divert attention from their own scams and misdeeds will not work as the people of India have seen through them repeatedly and comprehensively rejected the Congress' 'Sultanate of Corruption'," she said.

Citing Congress' internal fighting in Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and several other places, Irani said that a party that can't manage its own house can hardly be expected to run an entire nation.

The BJP leader also criticied Gandhi for making mockery of development in Gujarat and accused it of prefering vote bank politics.

"Rahul Gandhi is not only anti-progress but also mocks the idea of a developed and empowered India. He has clearly indicated that his party and him prefer the idea of vote bank politics. The manner in which he has made fun of the dreams and aspirations of the people of Gujarat will lead to a historic defeat for the Congress party in the December 2017 state elections," she said.

She added that 'Vikas' is not something to be ridiculed but instead should be welcomed.

"What Rahul Gandhi is doing in Gujarat is to insult the dreams and aspirations of 6.5 crore Gujaratis," she said.

Irani suggested Rahul Gandhi to devote time to Amethi, his Lok Sabha constituency, instead of engaging in political activity.

"Amethi needs immediate attention and more development works. The people of Amethi are asking for 'Vikas' even as the local MP goes around the nation mocking 'Vikas' and insulting the poor of India," she said.

Earlier on the day, Rahul Gandhi launched a frontal attack on the Narendra Modi government, accusing it of crony capitalism, and hit out at Amit Shah over allegations that his son's business fortunes soared after the NDA government came to power in New Delhi.