AAP targets Congress over tweet on Rajiv Gandhi’s statement

New Delhi, Aug 20 (PTI) Ahead of Punjab Assembly polls,the AAP today attempted to put Congress in the dock over atweet quoting Rajiv Gandhi’s controversial statement on1984 anti-Sikh riots, accusing the party of "rubbing salt"on the wounds of the victims. The West Bengal unit of Congress has, however, claimedthat its twitter handle was hacked by someone who posted thetweet to malign the party and Rajiv Gandhi and it will file apolice complaint. Lashing out at the Congress, AAP leader Kumar Vishwasalleged that the party is "shamelessly" propagating thestatement of Rajiv Gandhi that ‘when a big tree falls, theground shakes’ and it would be the "last nail in its coffin". "After the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the then Congressgovernment’s silence was unrepentant. The statement of RajivGandhi itself was very shameless. "But the Congress leaders are shamelessly propagating it.This is mean and hateful. Instead of healing the wounds (ofthe victims), they are rubbing salt. This is emotionlessand inhuman. For an arrogant Congress, this statement will bethe last nail in the coffin," Vishwas said. The West Bengal unit of Congress was today left red facedafter the controversial comment made by Gandhi following theSikh riots was posted from its the official twitter handle onthe former prime minister’s birth anniversary. The tweet on WBPCC twitter handle said, "When a big treefalls, the ground shakes #BharatRatnaRajivGandhi." It waslater removed by WBPCC. Rajiv Gandhi had made the comment following the anti-Sikhriots which broke out after the assassination of Indira Gandhiin 1984. The comment had created a major controversy. The AAP is in a triangular contest in Punjab with theShiromani Akali Dal and Congress in the fray. PTI PRRT