While accusing the Congress party and its president Rahul Gandhi of being the “invisible hand” behind the petition in judge BH Loya case, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday asked the Gandhi scion to apologise to the country for defaming the judiciary.

Accusing the Congress of being the “invisible political power or a political platform” behind the petition, BJP spokesperson Patra said it was an attempt to settle political rivalry.

The BJP came down heavily on opposition parties after the Supreme Court (SC) dismissed the petition seeking a probe by Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the death of judge Loya.

Also read | Judge Loya death case verdict exposes ugly face of Congress: Yogi Adityanath

Addressing the media soon after the apex court turned down the plea for independent probe into the death of Judge Loya, who was earlier holding trial in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh staged shootout case, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said the petitions were filed with a political agenda.

“For sometime, a few people were trying to politicise the judiciary. The court has slammed the petitioners who were demanding a SIT probe into the death of Judge Loya,” he said.

पिछले कुछ समय से कुछ लोग जिस प्रकार से न्याय प्रक्रिया का राजनीतिकरण कर रहें है आज उसका पर्दाफाश हो गया है : डॉ @sambitswaraj #SCJudgementSlamsCong pic.twitter.com/kCgw6xoIyC

— BJP (@BJP4India) April 19, 2018

“Who held a press conference on January 12, 2018? It was Rahul Gandhi. It will be true to say the invisible hand, the invisible body that the Supreme Court is talking about… is none other than Rahul Gandhi and the Congress,” he said.

“You people lost power because of your inefficiencies. And it’s the reason why you people are so jealous. Rahul Gandhi should come out and apologize to (BJP President) Amit Shah, the country and judiciary,” he said.

Patra took a jibe at Rahul Gandhi saying that he lost the trust of the country due to your indolence. (Translated from Hindi)

राहुल गांधी जी मैं आपको कहना चाहूंगा कि आपने देश की जनता के विश्वास को खो दिया है , सत्ता आपके हाथ से आपकी अकर्मण्यता के कारण गई है, इसी वजह से आप बदले की भावना में जल रहे हैं : डॉ @sambitswaraj #SCJudgementSlamsCong

— BJP (@BJP4India) April 19, 2018

He said that all the petitions were politically motivated and were aimed at defaming Amit Shah. “Today, he (Rahul Gandhi) got a befitting reply from the Supreme Court.”

He accused the Congress of using such tactics as they were not able to fight politically against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah.

“The Congress has always promoted one family and when they are out of power, they hatch such conspiracies,” he said.

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said, “The people who have been politicising the judiciary for their own motives, now stand exposed”.

The people who have been politicising the judiciary for their own motives, now stand exposed : Dr. @sambitswaraj #SCJudgementSlamsCong

— BJP (@BJP4India) April 19, 2018

“Court called this petition a veiled petition. The petition was filed by somebody who wants to settle the political score. I want to ask, who is this invisible political power which is trying to settle political rivalry?”, said Patra.

Court called this petition a veiled petition. The petition was filed by somebody who wants to settle the political score. I want to ask, who is this invisible political power which is trying to settle political rivalry? : Dr. @sambitswaraj #SCJudgementSlamsCong

— BJP (@BJP4India) April 19, 2018

Holding that there was absolutely no merit in the petition, a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice DY Chandrachud said judge Loya had met a natural death.