New Delhi: Congress today (June 23, 2004) hit back at BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) for charging Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with playing second fiddle to "super Prime Minister" Sonia Gandhi and said that the cap fits the saffron party as the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) was an "extra constitutional authority" during the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) rule.

"It appears that the BJP has a lost its memory and mental balance as prominent RSS leaders including Madan Das Devi were present at almost all the meetings at the official residence of the Prime Minister when the BJP was in power," party spokesman Anand Sharma told reporters here.

Dismissing as "mischievous and baseless" the charge made in the political resolution at the BJP's National Executive currently on in Mumbai, Sharma said it would be better for the saffron party to do some soul searching on causes for its defeat instead of adopting such "loud" resolutions.

He alleged that the BJP leaders, holding their meeting in a posh hotel, were indulging in an exercise of ridiculing the Prime Minister and Congress unmindful of the fact that they have been rejected lock, stock and barrel due to "disconnect" with the people.

Noting that there was nothing unusual in the BJP attack given the fact that the saffron party and the Sangh Parivar were masters in double speak and double standards.

Sharma was also critical of the BJP for raising the issue of "tainted" ministers in the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government and defending the chargesheeted ministers during the NDA rule.