BJP today criticized Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi after he raked up the liquor baron Vijay Mallya issue and accused him of speaking lies. Party Secretary Shrikant Sharma alleged that Mr. Gandhi is making baseless allegations to divert attention from the Uttar Pradesh government's failures as he has struck a deal with Samajwadi Party. He said Mallya turned a defaulter during the UPA and still received more loans from banks. <br/><br/>Mr. Sharma said it is shameful that Mr. Gandhi is blaming the current government for the sins of his government. In a dig at the central government, Mr. Gandhi during his campaign in UP, said if a farmer takes away a cot, he is called a thief but people like Mallya who run away with crores of rupees are called defaulters. Yesterday, Mr Gandhi launched a yatra in Uttar Pradesh by meeting with farmers on cots. Farmers were reportedly seen fleeing with cots minutes after Congress Vice President left the spot.