New Delhi, Aug. 16 -- BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari slammed the Congress over the controversy surrounding the recitation of Vande Mataram at the party office and questioned the absence of its leaders from the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort.

Responding to Congress MP Manoj Kumar's remarks defending the party, on Saturday, Bhandari questioned the "angry facial expressions" of Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi during the event.

The BJP leader told ANI, "If this is the case, then why were the facial expressions of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi so angry? If this is the case, then why didn't Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi come to the Red Fort when India celebrated its 80th Independence Day... If this is...