Lucknow/New Delhi, May 21 -- Leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah as traitors, triggering an avalanche of criticism from the ruling BJP, which said the remarks were born out of frustration over electoral losses. At a programme in his Lok Sabha constituency Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh, Gandhi said Modi, Shah and the BJP's ideological front, the Rashtriya Swayemsevak Sangh (RSS), are "attacking the Constitution" every day and have "sold the country's interests" to select industrialists. Wrapping up the speech, he told the crowd: "When you go back home, when these RSS workers come to you, they will talk about Narendra Modi, they will talk about Amit Shah. You look them in the face and say, 'Your Prime Minister is a traitor, your home minister is a traitor, your organisation is a traitor. You have worked to sell out India. You have attacked our Constitution, BR Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi.' Tell them this." Later addressing an event in Amethi, Gandhi referred to his remarks made in Rae Bareli. "I had said that Modi and Amit Shah are traitors. If someone weakens and destroys our Constitution, then what else should they be called if not traitors?" BJP leaders, ministers and chief ministers hit out at Gandhi for the remarks. In a post on X, UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath called for an apology from Gandhi, saying, "The unbridled remarks made by the Congress's 'Crown Prince' expose his negative brand of politics, his lack of restraint in thought, and his disregard for democratic values." Bharatiya Janata party national president Nitin Nabin said, "Rahul Gandhi's behaviour reflects his frustration and despair, born out of continuous electoral defeats." "...Whenever Congress was in power, there was corruption. Today, the BJP government has a policy of zero tolerance for corruption. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, terrorism has also been curbed. Rahul Gandhi should explain, is eliminating Naxalism treachery and securing the nation's land treachery? Is enhancing the honor of India's tricolor across the world treachery?" Nabin questioned. Union minister Kiren Rijiju said the Congress is driving people away with its politics. "Not surprised that the Congress Party is losing people's support. I wonder how Congress people don't realise that it's their leader & spokespersons who are pushing away even those people who are politically neutral. Congress can't read people's pulse, the public hates negative politics!" he said. BJP's ally, the Lok Jan Shakti Party, also criticised Gandhi. Union minister and Lok Jan Shakti Party leader Chirag Paswan in a post on X said, "It is extremely unfortunate and against democratic norms for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to make such indecent remarks about the country's Prime Minister..."...