New Delhi, March 12: A day after Congress president Rahul Gandhi sparked controversy by calling Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar as "Masood Azhar ji", the grand old party also hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi on Tuesday tweeted a video of Union Law Minister in which he was calling Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed as ‘Hafiz ji’. 'Masood Azhar Ji': Rahul Gandhi Sparks Row With Dignified Reference to Jaish-e-Mohammed Chief.

Chaturvedi also tweeted, “Hope this finds pride of place in BJP‘s revamped website, as & when it returns. BJP‘s admiration of Hafeez Saeed&his ilk. Also reminds us how they sent their special emissary to Pak, Ved P Vaidik, to have a dialogue with him & hug him. Hugplomacy began from there. “

The Congress spokesperson along with her post used the hashtag “BJPLovesTerrorists”. In another tweet, she shared a picture of National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval accompanying Jaish chief Azhar, in Kandahar, Afghanistan, who was released along with two other terrorists following the hijack of the Indian Airlines Flight 814. On Sunday, the Congress president also tweeted same pictures and questioned the BJP for releasing the JeM chief. Rahul Gandhi Attacks Narendra Modi, Says ‘Tell Pulwama Victim Families Who Released Masood Azhar’.

On Monday, Prasad had criticised Gandhi for referring to JeM chief as Massod Azhar “Ji”. He tweeted, “Come on Rahul Gandhi Ji! Earlier it were the likes of Digvijay Ji who called Osama Ji and Hafiz Saeed Sahab. Now you are saying Masood Azhar Ji. What is happening to Congress Party?"

Meanwhile, on March 11, Gandhi called the JeM chief and mastermind of the 2001 Parliament attack, and the recent fidayeen strike in Pulwama, as "Masood Azhar ji" while addressing party cadres at a meeting in New Delhi. After the video of his speech went viral, the BJP slammed the Congress president for his comment. Responding to Gandhi’s statement, Union Minister Smriti Irani said that the nation was shocked as the Congress president addressed a terrorist Masood Azhar with respect.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 12, 2019 10:11 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).