New Delhi [India], June 3 (ANI): BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan launched a blistering attack on Congress MP and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday, accusing him of cowardice and hypocrisy. He alleged that Congress has a legacy of appeasement and weak leadership.

Responding to Rahul Gandhi's recent comments critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kesavan said, 'The Congress party, ever since Nehru's days, has been hyphenated with cowardice. Rahul Gandhi says don't be afraid, but he himself is afraid to release the contents of 51 cartons of letters written by Jawaharlal Nehru, which rightfully belong to the nation.'

Questioning Gandhi's transparency and courage, Kesavan challenged him to make the letters public. 'Why is Rahul Gandhi being a coward and not disclosing what's in those letters? If he wants to talk about courage, he should revisit the 1923 Naba incident, where his great-grandfather Nehru admitted in his autobiography that he had deserted his colleagues and behaved like a coward,' Kesavan said.

Taking a swipe at the Congress leader's international image, the BJP spokesperson cited former US President Barack Obama's autobiography, in which Obama allegedly described Rahul Gandhi as 'nervous' and having 'an unformed quality.'

He also criticized the Congress-led UPA government's response to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

'Obama clearly says that the Manmohan Singh government resisted attempts to retaliate against Pakistan because the Congress party was afraid of anti-Muslim sentiment in the wake of the 26-11 attacks. Look at the cowardice of the Congress party and their appeasement politics.'

Referring to recent military operations, Kesavan said Gandhi's remarks insulted the armed forces.

'Rahul Gandhi, with his statements and his bitterness for the Prime Minister, has only further insulted our armed forces and their courage, and he has also discredited Operation Sindhu. But regardless of what doomsday and naysayers like Rahul Gandhi may state, the entire world is lauding Operation Sindoor for striking a decisive blow at the root of global terrorism. Operation Sindoor and the valour of our armed forces under the leadership of Narendra Modi ji will be written in the golden letters of India's history,' he said.

His remarks come in the wake of Rahul Gandhi's recent attack on the BJP-led government over alleged US mediation.

Addressing Congress workers in Bhopal, Gandhi alleged that Prime Minister Modi 'surrendered' after receiving a call from US President Donald Trump. He contrasted Modi's reaction with former PM Indira Gandhi's stance during the 1971 India-Pakistan war. He also attacked the BJP-RSS, alleging that if slight pressure is exerted on them, 'they run away out of fear.'

'Now, I understand RSS-BJP well. If slight pressure is put on them, they run away out of fear. When Trump called Modiji-'Modiji kya kar rahe ho, Narender-Surrender and with 'ji hazooor', Narenderji followed Trump. In the 1971 war, Seventh Fleet (came from the US), Indira Gandhi said I will do whatever I have to do. This is the difference.'

Rahul Gandhi also attacked the BJP-led government in a post on X. 'Since the Independence movement, they have this habit of writing letters of surrender.'

'Trump's phone came and Narendraji immediately surrendered. History is witness, this is the character of BJP-RSS, they always budge. India had bifurcated Pakistan in 1971 despite the threat by the United States,' Rahul Gandhi said in his post. 'The 'babbar sher' and 'shernis' of Congress fight the Superpowers, they do not bow,' he added.

US President Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for stopping hostilities between India and Pakistan after New Delhi's effective response to Islamabad's aggression following precision strikes on terror infrastructure. India had conducted Operation Sindoor early on May 7 and hit terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

India effectively responded to subsequent Pakistan aggression and pounded its airbases. India and Pakistan agreed to stop military action following a call made by Pakistan's DGMO to his Indian counterpart. (ANI)