Citing controversial Islamic cleric Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan's support to Congress in Uttar Pradesh assembly polls and Akhilesh Yadav-led SP nominating several Muslims accused of involvement in riots and making communal remarks, BJP on Tuesday alleged that the two parties appeared to be in a competition over patronising and encouraging those spewing venom against Hindus.

At a press conference, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra referred to Khan's recent speech targeting Hindus and said Congress had allied in the past with parties in states like Kerala, Karnataka and West Bengal, which drew support from Muslims and were accused of making communal remarks targeted at the majority community.

SP has also given tickets to people like Nahid Hasan, an MLA currently in jail, and Muharram Ali, accused of stoking riots, Patra said.

"These developments have exposed both parties for their promotion of radical syndicates," the BJP leader said.

The BJP spokesperson also cited Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole's comments against PM Narendra Modi to say that it shows that the breach in Modi's security in Punjab was not a coincidence but an experiment at the behest of top functionaries in the opposition party.

Patole had said he can beat up and abuse Modi but later claimed that he was not referring to the PM.

To a question on the Aam Aadmi Party declaring its MP Bhagwant Mann as its CM face in Punjab, Patra took a jibe saying AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal "named Mann as the party's CM face like a governor and Mann also acted as if he was taking oath for the post".

Patra also dismissed the Congress allegation of politics behind the Enforcement Directorate's raids on multiple locations in poll-bound Punjab, saying the law will take its own course and this should not be seen through the prism of politics. In some cases, he said, Punjab Police had filed FIRs and even Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu had demanded action against the sand mafia, which has been targeted by the ED.

(With inputs from agencies)