Why give a top post to murder accused: Congress

NEW DELHI: Congress slammed BJP over appointment of Amit Shah as party chief, asking whether the saffron party had "limited talent" that forced it to go in for an accused in a murder charge for the top post.
“The nation is obviously mystified as to how no other better talent is available in BJP except a murder accused on bail and formally externed for two years from one part of India,” said Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi.
The party termed the appointment as unprecedented, saying Shah is an accused in a murder charge, and is on bail.
Describing Shah’s appointment as BJP chief as a “sad day for democracy’’, AAP said BJP had lowered the minimum moral qualification for the post.
“By appointing Mr Shah as its chief, the BJP has lowered the minimum moral qualification required for leaders to head major political parties in the country. It is difficult to recall any other example in which a leader who faced serious criminal charges including murder, extortion and kidnapping was anointed as chief of a national political party,’’ a statement by the party said.
AAP said Shah is currently out on bail and is facing serious charges of having masterminded the alleged fake encounters of Sohrabuddin Sheikh, his wife Kausarbi and an eyewitness in the case Tulsiram Prajapati.
“In his first major speech in Parliament as Prime Minister, Narendra Modi had stressed on deciding cases of MPs facing criminal charges within a year to free this important institution of democracy from criminals. Now, by appointing an individual who is facing trial in cases of murder, conspiracy, extortion, kidnapping, destruction of evidence and wrongful confinement as party president – are Mr Modi and BJP indicating that office-bearers of political parties enjoy immunity from criminalization of politics,’’ AAP said.