Bengaluru, May 18 -- The Congress hit out at Union Minister Pralhad Joshi for comparing Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi with Muhammad Ali Jinnah, calling the remark a sign of "political shortsightedness" and "ignorance of history."

In a sharp statement, Congress leaders said Joshi's comment equating Rahul Gandhi with Jinnah, "who pushed the nation into the catastrophe of Partition," runs counter to democratic values.

"The legacy of sacrificing blood, sweat, and lives for the unity, integrity, and freedom of this country belongs to the Indian National Congress. Thousands of Congress workers have gone to jail and laid down their lives for the nation," the party said. "By comparing leaders of that same Congress to Jinnah, BJP leaders...