New Delhi, July 23: Union Ministers Smriti Irani and Piyush Goyal launched a scathing attack at Congress President Rahul Gandhi for his tweet on Alwar lynching today. While Goyal called Gandhi a 'merchant of hate', Irani accused him of 'Vulture politics'. "This is Modi’s brutal New India where humanity is replaced with hatred and people are crushed and left to die," Gandhi had tweeted on Monday morning attacking the Narendra Modi government over lynchings.

Responding to Gandhi's tweet, Irani referred to 1984 anti-Sikh riots and the 1989 Bhagalpur violence. "Rahul Gandhi’s family presided over the worst form of hate in 1984, Bhagalpur & Nellie & many other instances. It is shameful that he is doing the same through VULTURE POLITICS. Not a single instance goes by where he doesn't attempt to rupture social bonds for electoral gains (sic)," Irani tweeted.

Goyal, meanwhile, asked Rahul Gandhi to "stop jumping with joy every time a crime happens." "The state has already assured strict & prompt action. You divide the society in every manner possible for electoral gains & then shed crocodile tears. Enough is Enough. You are a MERCHANT OF HATE. (sic)," he added.

Rahul Gandhi's tweet came after reports of police laxity in the Alwar lynching case. The Alwar Police have come under attack after it was revealed that they first sent cows to a Gaushala (cow shelter) and then brought Rakbar Khan to the nearest hospital. The Alwar police struggled to explain why it took them more than 3 hours to travel 6 km while taking Rakbar to hospital.

Rakbar Khan, 31, was allegedly lynched by a mob in Rajasthan's Alwar on Friday over suspicion of cattle smuggling. Rakbar Khan and another man were allegedly transporting two cows from his native Kolganv village in Haryana to Ramgarh's Lalwandi village when a violent mob attacked them. The two were brutally beaten up and Rakbar died on the spot.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 23, 2018 02:37 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).