BJP is a party of dancers: Digvijay Singh

The dance by senior BJP leader Sushama Swaraj at Rajghat was today at the centre of a political row as Congress attacked the opposition party as an outfit of dancers while the leader of the opposition defended her act saying she has the right to dance to patriotic songs.

Terming BJP as a party of "nachaniyon (dancers)", Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh said in Lucknow that the party leaders violated the sanctity at the samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi and should apologise.

"The way in which party leaders breached the sanctity of Rajghat by dancing there is condemnable. The party should tender an apology to people. Yeh nachaniyon ki party kab se ho gayi" (When did BJP become a party of dancers)"? he said.

In Delhi, another party general secretary BK Hariprasad said that "by dancing at Gandhi's samadhi, Sushma Swaraj not only insulted Gandhiji but all the freedom fighters and the entire countrymen. She should resign from the post of the leader of the opposition and apologise to the people."

Singh also said, "BJP belonged to an ideology which killed Mahatma Gandhi... With its leaders Sushma Swaraj and Vijay Goel dancing there, they have shown they belong to this ideology."

A combative Swaraj hit back at Congress saying those criticising her are suffering from "mental slavery".

She said Congress was trying to divert attention from the "main issues" of corruption and black money and questioned whether such comments had the blessings of party chief Sonia Gandhi.

The controversy erupted yesterday when footage showing Swaraj dancing at Rajghat were aired on television channels.