Rahul refers JeM chief as "Ji" , lands in a controversy; Cong says it was sarcasm

New Delhi (India), March 11 (ANI): Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday courted a controversy as he referred to Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar as 'Ji', evoking an attack from the BJP even as the Congress said a “twist" was being given to a comment meant to be sarcastic.
"In Pulwama, there was a bomb explosion. 40-45 of our CRPF personnel were martyred. Who carried out the bomb attack in the (CRPF) bus? Jaish-e-Mohammad. You might remember Masood Azhar. During the previous government of the 56-inch people, today's NSA Ajit Doval went in an aircraft with Masood Azhar ji and handed him over," Rahul said while addressing a party function here.
Rahul was referring to release of Azhar in exchange of hostages of hijacked Indian Airlines plane IC-814 in 1999. Indian Airlines plane was hijacked during its flight from Kathmandu to Delhi and was taken to Kandahar in Afghanistan. 
No sooner Rahul made the comment, BJP slammed him and accused him of loving terrorists.
"#RahulLovesTerrorist" started trending on Twitter from the BJP's official handle minutes after Rahul Gandhi's comment.
"Rahul Gandhi is filled with respect for Masood Azhar who is chief of JeM which is responsible for taking lives of 44 of our brave soldiers in Pulwama. #RahulLovesTerrorists," tweeted BJP. 
"What is common between Rahul Gandhi and Pakistan?  Their love for terrorists. Please note Rahul ji’s reverence for terrorist Masood Azhar - a testimony to #RahulLovesTerrorists", tweeted union minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani, along with the short video of the Congress President's comment for reference.
Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said a twist was being given to a comment meant to be sarcastic.
Surjewala tweeted: “2 questions to BJP & select Bhakt Media, who deliberately seek to twist the ‘Masood’ sarcasm of Rahulji-: 1 Did NSA Doval not escort & release terrorist Masood Azhar in Kandahar? 2 Did Modiji not invite Pak's rogue ISI to investigate Pathankot terror attack?”  (ANI)