While the Congress accused Naidu of taking the decision in a hurry, the BJP said that the Rahul Gandhi-led party was resorting to the tactics of 'threatening' and pressurising judiciary.

Attacking the prime minister on employment and other promises made by him before the last Lok Sabha polls, Gandhi said Modi would now come up with new promises for votes.

Seen as the party's effort to reach out to the community ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the campaign launch was attended by former prime minister Manmohan Singh and other leaders.

Addressing the concluding session of the party's Mahila Morcha national executive meeting in Ghaziabad, Shah slammed Congress president Rahul Gandhi for demanding a report card of the Modi government.

It is being seen an attempt by the grand-old party to reach out to the Dalit community ahead of the crucial 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Disagreeing with the Supreme Court verdict, the Congress had yesterday demanded a fair inquiry to address the "unanswered questions" regarding Loya's death.  

A letter issued by BJP Parliamentary party on Thursday also provided written material for all the party MPs asking them to run campaign against Gandhi and the Congress for defaming party President Amit Shah in their respective constituencies.

The Supreme Court's said Judge Loya died of natural causes while underlining that the PILs that were "a real attempt and frontal attack" on the independence of judiciary and that the present case was a manifestation to carry forward a personal agenda.

In an exclusive interview with India TV, BJP leader and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday said that the Public Interest Litigation (PIL), which was dismissed by the Supreme Court today as frivolous, was filed to serve the interests of Congress.

"While the great Hindu culture taught the world about culture, peace and civilisation for lakhs of years, the Congress party has committed a sin by linking it to saffron terror," Shah said.

Using the situation to his advantage, Congress president Rahul Gandhi launched an all out attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Rahul accused PM Modi of destroying the banking system with his demonetisation decision.

During a meeting with then US ambassador, Rahul Gandhi had said saffron terror was a bigger threat than the Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed the BJP quoting a telegram sourced from Wikileaks.

Continuing his tirade against the PM, the Congress leader said that Modi was running away from debate in Parliament over issues like Rafale jet deal with France.

Party workers took to the streets in parts of the state to protest the selection of candidates, alleging nepotism as Congress has retained 103 of its 122 candidates instead of giving preference to new faces.

The special NIA court's verdict gave the ruling BJP ample ammunition to target the Congress which headed the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in 2007. The ruling party came out all guns blazing at the Congress demanding an apology from the party leadership for 'defaming' Hindus.

"Show me a video or a sound clip where Rahul Gandhi or any other Congress functionary is seen using the term ‘Bhagva aatankwad' (saffron terror). There is no such thing as saffron terror," Congress Spokesman P.L. Punia said.

Gandhi tweeted that in 2016, a total of 19,675 rapes of minors were reported and called it shameful.

Talking to reporters in New Delhi, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra said the Congress should apologise for using terms like 'Hindu terror' and 'saffron terror'. 

The Congress president represents Amethi in Lok Sabha while his mother Sonia Gandhi is Lok Sabha MP from Raebareli.

Amethi is represented by Gandhi in Parliament, while his mother and former Congress president Sonia Gandhi is the MP from Raebareli.