Congress files police complaint against Nadda, Smriti Irani, Sambit Patra for propagating fake ‘toolkit’

The Congress on Tuesday accused the BJP of propagating a fake ‘toolkit' and filed a complaint with the Delhi Police Commissioner against BJP chief J.P. Nadda, Union minister Smriti Irani, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra, BJP general secretary B L Santhosh and several others from the saffron camp.

The controversy erupted after BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra took to Twitter on Tuesday and shared a page, saying, "Friends look at the Congress 'ToolKit' in extending help to the needy during the Pandemic. More of a PR exercise with the help of 'Friendly Journalists' and 'Influencers' than a soulful endeavour. Read for yourselves the agenda of the Congress: CongressToolKitExposed."

Countering Patra's claims, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said while addressing a press conference in Delhi, "There are two ways of addressing questions and criticisms. Respond to questions and correct where you went wrong, and the second way is the BJP toolkit way -- attack those who are questioning you, resort to lies, forgery and fabrication."

He said the Congress has filed a complaint with the Delhi Police against Smriti Irani, J.P. Nadda, Sambit Patra, B.L. Santosh and others for circulating the fake toolkit by forging the letterhead of the Congress' research department.

Khera said, "Today we have seen the fabrication face of BJP as they forged the letterhead of the Congress research department."

The Congress leader also questioned the Centre as to how much effort will it make to spread lies and hide the truth.

Responding to Patra's tweet, the chairman of Congress' research department, Rajeev Gowda, said in a tweet, "BJP is propagating a fake toolkit on Covid-19 mismanagement and attributing it to AICC Research Department. We are filing an FIR for forgery against (BJP chief) J.P. Nadda and Sambit Patra. When our country is devastated by Covid, instead of providing relief, BJP shamelessly concocts forgeries."

Gowda said that the document tweeted by Patra about the Central Vista project was genuine, but not the one on Covid-19, reported the Hindustan Times. “I see all background papers before they are sent to the party,” he said, adding, “No such document has been prepared by us.”

Gowda’s response came after Patra tweeted parts of two documents – a five-page excerpt of a purported “toolkit” on the Central Vista project, and a small portion of one he claimed to be related to the central government’s Covid-19 management.

Several Congress leaders took to Twitter to slam the BJP.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi tweeted: "Don’t waste time spreading lies, wake up and start saving lives," with an image of the first page of BJP national general secretary B L Santhosh's tweet which he claimed to be the opposition party's toolkit.

Former Union minister Jairam Ramesh tweeted:

Indian Youth Congress president Srinivas BV tweeted:

National campaign-in charge, IYC, Srivasta tweeted:

Salman Anees Soz tweeted: