The Bharatiya Janata Party has hit out at the Congress for insulting late revolutionary leaders Bhagat Singh, Raj Guru and Sukhdev by identifying them by their caste affliations.

The comments, made in the latest edition of Congress newsletter Sandesh commemmorating the anniversary celebrations of Indian freedom fighters, have drawn criticism from different quarters.

"Congress should apologize to the nation for such scandulous and disparging remarks against the great freedom fighters who laid down their lives for achieving the cherished goal of freedom from the clutches of the English rulers," BJP leader Prakash Javadekar told rediff.com.

"The Congress party is known for

toeing the Britisher's line of thinking. Their thinking has always been negative and this is evident from the publication of such disgraceful comments against Bhagat Singh, Raj Guru and Sukhev. As a revolutionary, Sukdev had avenged the death of Lala Lajpat Rai and he cannot be described as murderer," he added.

D Raja, CPI leader, too slammed the Congress publication.

"They were great visionaries and to divide them in their respective castes and describe Sukhdev as a murderer is highly objectionable. The Congress part must apologise to the nation and the relatives of the freedom fighters who must be feeling agreeived and hurt by such a character assassination of the freedom fighters," Raja told rediff.com.