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BJP, Congress tug of war


Published : 09 May 2019 09:07 PM | Updated : 05 Sep 2020 08:47 AM

Rajib used warship as private taxi: Modi

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked Rajiv Gandhi as he said the former PM and his family went for a vacation on board an Indian Navy's warship using it like a ‘personal taxi’ and contended that it had compromised national security.
The ship INS Vikrant, Modi told an election rally here on Wednesday evening, was positioned for protection of maritime boundaries when it was sent to transport Rajiv Gandhi and his family to an island for their holiday. Even his in-laws were onboard INS Virat, Modi said.
‘Even Navy personnel were put on service of Rajiv Gandhi and his family while they were vacationing at the island. INS Virat was also stationed at the island for 10 days during that time,’ said Modi who has accused the Congress and other opposition parties of neglecting national security.
The fresh salvo by Modi against the former PM came a few days after his comments that Rajiv Gandhi died as ‘Bhrashtachari (corrupt) number 1’ had come under criticism with most opposition leaders flaying the remarks saying it was inappropriate of the Prime Minister to make such statements about a deceased predecessor who was assassinated by terrorists.
While Rahul Gandhi had responded to Modi’s remarks with love and hug, his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had said the Prime Minister, despite his party's nationalistic credentials, had criticised a ‘martyr’.
The BJP supported Modi's comment, contending that it was on par with Rahul Gandhi calling a sitting Prime Minister ‘thief’ which the Congress and other opposition parties were doing.
In view of the Congress outrage, the Prime Minister has challenged the principal opposition party to contest the two remaining phases of the ongoing parliamentary election, especially from Delhi, in the name of Rajiv Gandhi.

Modi blames us for his own failure: Priyanka

General Secretary of India’s Congress party, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of blaming the Nehru-Gandhi family for his own ‘failures’ and charged that he was like a schoolboy who failed to do his homework and his excuses are Jawaharlal Nehru has taken away his answer-sheet and Indira Gandhi has made a paper boat out of that.
Holding a road-show in support of veteran leader Sheila Dikshit, the Congress' candidate from the Northeast Delhi constituency, Priyanka said, “His (Modi's) situation is like a schoolboy who never comes with his homework. When the teachers ask him, he says Nehruji took my paper away and hid it or Indira Gandhi made a paper boat out of that and drowned it in the water.”
She also challenged Modi to contest the last two phases of the ongoing parliamentary polls n the issues of demonetisation, women's security and the promises made by him to the people of the country.
Priyanka sought to strike an emotional chord with the people of Delhi during the road show describing herself as ‘Dilli ki beti’ (daughter of Delhi) and saying she was born in Delhi and is empathetic towards their aspirations, unlike Prime Minister Narendra Modi who, she claimed, has been here only for five years.
The road show started in Seelampur, a Muslim-dominated locality of East Delhi, and meandered with a sea of people towards Yamuna Vihar depot where it culminated. Perched atop a minibus, she said
“Modiji is in Delhi for five years. I was born in the city. I have seen every bylane. I will tell you (Modi) what the people of Delhi think. They are tired of your useless talk. You keep yourself confined to your Race Course Road (official) residence,” said Priyanka.
Accusing Modi of destroying democratic institutions and the BJP of playing politics in the name of religion, she alleged the Prime Minister was indulging in negative politics and cannot give a direct answer to questions on the work he did during his five years of governance.
Flagging the issue of uniform Goods and Services Tax introduced across the country two years ago, which critics say was implemented in a haphazard manner, Priyanka said the indirect tax regime ‘broke’ the back of businessmen.
The AICC general secretary also referred to the BJP's 2014 poll promises, including about providing 2 crore jobs every year. She asked the people if they got the jobs, to which the crowd responded in negative.
Priyanka waved at the supporters who raised slogans, referring to her resemblance with Indira Gandhi, ‘Desh me aandhi Priyanka Gandhi’ and ‘Priyanka nahi ye andhi hai doosri Indira Gandhi hai’.
People jostled with each other to catch a glimpse of Priyanka and some showered rose petals on her as the minibus passed by them. Priyanka’s cavalcade travelled through the lanes on the route of the road show amid a cacophony of claps, hooting, sloganeering and drum-beating.